|
 But the Blackhawks have an edge on the defending Stanley Cup
champions, further illustrated in Monday's 4-1 win over the Kings at
the United Center.
Seemingly inspired by word earlier in the day that injured teammate
Patrick Kane may be coming back sooner than expected from a broken
collarbone, the Blackhawks played one of their best and most
complete games of the season vs. the Kings.
In so doing, Chicago is now all but assured of making the upcoming
playoffs, with hopes to earn its third Stanley Cup championship in
the last six seasons.
"Big games like this seem to bring out the best in us," said Chicago
defenseman Duncan Keith, who was selected No. 1 star of the game.
Chicago is now just one point behind St. Louis for second place in
the Central Division.
"Our objective is to make the playoffs, finish as high as we can,
win the division and that's where we want to go," Chicago coach Joel
Quenneville said. "It's one step at a time."
In addition to Monday's win, Chicago also rallied to beat the Jets
in Winnipeg on Sunday night, winning on Jonathan Toews' goal with 31
seconds left in the game.
"We still have to take care of business and we still have some tough
games and some important points ahead of us," Quenneville said. "But
these last two games, feels good."
Chicago has now won six of its last nine games and improved to
46-24-6 behind the stellar play of backup goalie Scott Darling,
giving No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford a night off.
Darling stopped all but one of the Kings' 32 shots to improve his
season record to 8-3-0.
"Obviously, we look to push forward and gain on the teams in front
of us and this was a good start today," Chicago defenseman Johnny
Oduya said.
The same couldn't be said for the Kings and goalie Jonathan Quick.
Los Angeles (37-25-14) was rocked by an identical 4-1 score for the
second straight game, and so was Quick (33-21-12), who managed to
stop just 35 of Chicago's 39 shots in the game.
Quick left Saturday's game at Minnesota after giving up two goals in
the first period. Hoping for a comeback Monday, the Kings wound up
getting more of the same as they suffered their second straight
defeat.
The Kings are now one point behind Calgary for third in the Pacific
Division. Los Angeles is also third in the wild-card chase with 88
points, two points behind Winnipeg.
"It's not where we want to be, but can't sit here and feel bad for
ourselves," Kings forward Dustin Brown said. "We have to go out and
play. We still have a chance, so that's what I think guys in this
room have been really good at, is realizing that the opportunity is
there."
Chicago, which was eliminated in seven games by the Kings in last
season's Western Conference Final, wrapped up its regular season
tilt with Los Angeles with a 2-1-0 mark.
Chicago lit the goal lamp first at 5:31 of the first period when
left winger Bryan Bickell scored his 13th goal of the season, with
the assist going to fellow winger Brandon Saad.
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With 1:40 left in the first period, Saad was hammered in a sandwich,
first by defenseman Drew Dougherty, and immediately after with a
vicious hit by forward Kyle Clifford. It appeared Clifford hit Saad
with a forearm, but there was no penalty called.
Saad appeared to have the wind knocked out of him, but after being
checked by a trainer, he managed to skate off the ice under his own
power and went straight to the Blackhawks' locker room.
It's likely Clifford's hit was in retaliation for Saad hitting Kings
defenseman Jake Muzzin less than 10 seconds earlier.
Los Angeles finally scored its first goal to tie the game with 32
seconds left in the first period on Muzzin's unassisted wrist shot,
his ninth goal of the season.
Chicago regained the lead at 1:37 of the second period when
defenseman Duncan Keith scored his ninth goal of the season on the
power play, with assists by center Jonathan Toews and forward Marian
Hossa.
Keith's goal seemed to rattle Quick, as Chicago tallied yet another
goal just over a minute later (at 2:41) when defenseman Niklas
Hjalmarsson sent an unassisted slap shot past Quick to make it 3-1
in Chicago's favor.
It was Hjalmarsson's third goal of the season and his 100th career
point in the NHL.
"They got up the two goals in the second period; it's tough coming
back," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "You have to win games. You
have to win out. You don't lose in, you win in in this league,
especially the way the divisions are set up."
But Chicago wasn't through with Quick, as Hossa scored his 22nd goal
of the season at 13:06 of the third period, putting an exclamation
mark on the Blackhawks' win.
NOTES: Monday's attendance was 21,848. ... Quenneville said there is
a possibility RW Patrick Kane may return sooner than expected from
the broken collarbone injury that he sustained Feb. 24. Kane has
been skating for close to two weeks in full equipment. He was not
expected back until mid-May -- if the Hawks reached the conference
finals by that point. ...Monday's game marked the first time the
teams met in Chicago since Game 7 of last season's Western
Conference finals, which the Kings won en route to taking the
Stanley Cup championship. The clubs split two games earlier this
season in Los Angeles. ... Astronaut James Lovell, on the ice
pregame, received a big cheer from the crowd.
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