Photo by: Jeff Gross/Getty Images
The Kings took care of Game 4 of the Western Conference Final to put them a win away from being in the Stanley Cup Final. In a game that would define the series, the Hawks came into Staples Center to even the series 2-2, but the Defense of the Kings played to tight and the offense was even more for the Hawks to stop.
Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin and Justin Williams all had two points each, and with the help of every individual the Kings defeated the Blackhawks 5-2. They now lead the series 3-1 and hope to take Game 5 in Chicago to have an entry to the Stanley Cup final.
With Chicago taking game 1, they seemed to have control of the series in Game 2 when they were up 2-0, but the Kings started rolling and took care of Game 2. On Monday night they scored 3 goals in the first period, one in the 2nd period and 1 in the 3rd period. The Hawks are 1-6 when it comes down to being 3-1 in a series. They did rally from a 3-1 deficit last season to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. But this is 2014, and it will take all of the Kings’ energy and momentum to take Game 5 and take out the Hawks out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Jake Muzzin put the Kings in front 9 minutes into the 1st period during a power play. Jonathan Toews had a chance to get the puck out, but it bounced off Muzzin. That gave Toffoli a chance to get the puck to Doughty, sending it to Muzzin at the top of the zone, and that gave him time to inch closer to the net and pick a corner to get the puck in while Jeff Carter provided a screen in front of goalie Corey Crawford.
Marian Gaborik made it a 2-0 lead 2 minutes later. Again, Muzzin broke up a pass that was intended for Patrick Kane. Then as he hit it off the ice, Duncan Keith had the puck taken away from Anze Kopitar, who shot the puck to the net and was deflected of Marian Gaborik. 4 minutes later, the Kings scored another power play goal. Williams kept possession of the puck along the wall that led a pass to Muzzin and found Brown near the left post, to get the puck into the net and make it a 3-0 lead.
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Drew Doughty made it 2-0 in the second period when Anze Kopitar tried to shoot a goal, but was deflected of a defensive man and Kopitar got possession of it again. That gave him the chance to give it to Drew Doughty and allow Doughty to wrist shot off his back foot from the right point, made it past three bodies and fooled Crawford.
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Brandon Saad scored a minute later to make it 4-1. Bickell cut the lead to 4-2 in the third period in a play that was hard to believe. Jonathan Quick and with the help of his defensive line played great defense, saved the puck from going in 3 times but at the end, Bickell found it and shot just below the crossbar and over Jonathan Quick. With one minute remaining in the third period, Tanner Pearson scored into an empty net that defined game 4 of the series.
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Jonathan Quick had 22 saves in Game 4 with Corey Crawford having 16 saves. Muzzin (5), Gaborik (10), Brown (3), Doughty (3), and Pearson (3) all scored goals for the Kings while Saad (4) and Bickell (7) helped the Hawks get two into the net but wasn’t enough.
The Hawks seemed to struggle these past 3 games against the Kings, and will try to cut the series lead to one in Game 5 but the Kings, with one game away from the Stanley Cup final, will come with a lot of momentum to take the Western Conference Final.
Photo by: Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Game 5 will take place at United Center and will kick off at 8PM ET/5PM PT on Wednesday. The Kings will look to take the Western Conference final while the Hawks will look to make the series to 3-2.
