Blackhawks Take Game 1 Out West

The Western Conference Finals got underway Sunday afternoon in Chicago. The ‘Madhouse on Madison’ was rocking with a sellout crowd as usual to cheer on the home Blackhawks, as they faced the Los Angeles Kings in a rematch of last years Conference Finals.

Chicago came out of the gate firing, getting the first five shots of the game before the Kings got their first. Kings defenseman Alec Martinez took a bad roughing penalty, right when they had momentum going on their side. With two seconds left on the power play, Brandon Saad tipped in a Nick Leddy slapshot for the opening goal of the series. Corey Crawford made five shots on the opening period, to Jonathan Quick’s six.

The Kings opened the second period with more spirit on offense. They got a little help from the refs, disallowing a Jonathan Toews goal a few moments prior. That all paid off with an odd man rush five minutes into the period. Tyler Toffoli rushed down the middle of the offensive zone where Tanner Pearson found Toffoli for the easy one-timer, tying the game at one. The game would stay tied at one, until the 12 minute mark, where Duncan Keith gave the Blackhawks the lead. Keith found a lane for his slapshot that deflected off the ice and two Kings players for the redirected goal that beat Jonathan Quick.

Up 2-1 going into the final period, Chicago would need some help, as they started the final period on the penalty kill. L.A. out shot Chicago 17-6 in the second period. The final period would start with a couple of penalty kills that kept score at 2-1 for Chicago. The Blackhawks added to their blocked shots total on the pk’s increasing their game total to 25. The Kings would only muster up four shots in the final frame, and Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews put the nail in the coffin. On a play that started with an interception by Marian Hossa, Johnny Oduya and Toews rushed the Kings zone, on the odd man rush. Oduya found Toews for the hard one-timer that beat Quick, making it 3-1 Blackhawks. L.A. would pull Quick with 2:30 remaining in regulation, in a list ditch effort. Neither team would be able to score with the extra man or the empty net. Crawford finished the afternoon with 26 saves, to Quick’s 20.

Chicago looked in control for the majority of the game. They had a few moments where it looked like the Kings would make a run, but nothing happened. I didn’t expect the Kings to take game 1, but they need to come out like they did in the beginning of the second period today if they want to have a chance this series.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday 8 p.m. EST (NBCSN/CBC) at the United Center in Chicago. The win moves the Blackhawks to 7-0 at home during the playoffs this year.

photo credit: getty images gifs: sohockeyeh