Los Angeles has taken the first two games of the ‘freeway series’, and it looks to take all the momentum back to the Staples Center in L.A.
It took little time for the Kings to take the lead last night at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Marian Gaborik tallied his sixth goal of the post season, just 34 seconds into yesterdays contest.
Patrick Maroon got the equalizer nine minutes later, and the Ducks tied the game at one. The lead was short lived as Kings Defenseman, Alec Martinez, fired a slap shot past Jonas Hiller in what would be the game winning goal 12:07 into the first period.
That stat alone proves how well Jonathan Quick played last night, and seems to be in the zone during the conference semifinals.
Quick would go on to make 36 saves on the night, and only allowing one goal. It helps to play roughly only 30 miles away from your home stadium.
“It doesn’t even feel like being on the road,” Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said. “We’ve played really good in this building here in the regular season. The biggest thing for us, tonight, quite honest … we needed four lines and six defensemen to be really good for us in terms of an even-strength game.”
Going down 2-0 in a series before heading on the road can be demoralizing for a team.
“Yeah, we’re depressed right now,” Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau said. “But we’ll build ourselves up tomorrow and we’ll be ready for Thursday.
If the Kings continue to get the world-class performance out of Jonathan Quick, the Kings may make short work of the Ducks.
Quick who has a .924 save percentage, will enjoy the two day break in the series before it heads back to L.A.
The Ducks on the other hand need to right the ship that seems to be on a collision course with being swept from the playoffs.
It starts in net with Jonas Hiller. The Swiss goaltender needs to play better and allow the Ducks a chance to get back into games when they’re down late.
After the weekend, if the Ducks don’t play better, the I-5 freeway will belong to the Kings.
Game Picks
Blackhawks 5-2, Bruins 3-1
photo credit: getty images gifs:sohockeyeh
