Gallery: L.A. Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Game 2
Second period – Blackhawks 4, Kings 1
The Blackhawks didn’t need any help in building a commanding lead, but the Kings gave it to them anyway. Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr accidentally swatted a loose puck into the back of Jonathan Quick’s net to extend Chicago’s lead to 3-0 in the early minutes of the second period.
Then, with the Kings suffering a defensive lapse, Michal Handzus beat Quick with a shot from the left wing to cap an odd-man rush and make it 4-0. That was the last shot Quick would face, with Kings coach Darryl Sutter pulling him in favor of backup Jonathan Bernier.
The last time Quick gave up four goals in a playoff game was April 25, 2011 against the San Jose Sharks. He gave up three or fewer in 34 consecutive postseason games, including all 20 during the Kings’ charge to the Stanley Cup championship last spring.
Quick played only once on consecutive days during the regular season, and he wasn’t sharp in Game 2 on day after a superb performance during the Kings’ 2-1 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 1. Bernier did not play a second during the Kings’ run to the Cup.
Jeff Carter scored the Kings’ goal, off a set-up from rookie Tyler Toffoli.
First period – Blackhawks 2, Kings 0
Kings coach Darryl Sutter insisted an hour before Game 2 that Mike Richards was “fine” despite looking woozy after a tough hit from the Chicago Blackhawks’ Dave Bolland in the third period of Game 1 on Saturday. Richards was then scratched Sunday because of an upper-body injury.
Well, the head is part of the upper body, right?
Defenseman Jake Muzzin also was scratched after taking a big hit from Chicago’s Viktor Stalberg in Game 1. So, the Kings were very definitely not “fine” to start Game 2, with rookie Tyler Toffoli moving up to the second line in place of Richards and Alec Martinez filling in for Muzzin.
Then things went from bad to worse for the Kings, with Chicago’s Andrew Shaw scoring from point-blank range after a Kings turnover and a superb pass from the Blackhawks’ Stalberg to set up Shaw. The shot also appeared to glance off the stick of the Kings’ Trevor Lewis.
Funny thing, though, the Kings played an excellent first period. They were hitting and skating and passing the puck and creating scoring chances. All in all, they were much improved over their start in Game 1, when they actually led 1-0 after the first period.
The Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead after defenseman Brent Seabrook scored on a wicked blast from the right wing. The goal came against the run of play, with the Kings controlling things for an all-too-brief period of time in the opening period.
