Los Angeles Kings Versus Chicago Blackhawks Game Five Preview
By Eric Roberts
May 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey reacts after game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Blackhawks 5-2 to take a 3-1 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
By the end of the night there might be a spot in the Stanley Cup Final with the Los Angeles Kings’ name on it. The Kings go into Chicago for tonight’s game against the Blackhawks with a chance to eliminate the Blackhawks from the post season.
The Kings will enter tonight’s game on the heels of a 5-2 game four victory, and will have the chance to extend their current winning street to four games on enemy ice.
Anze Kopitar has been stellar for the Kings through this point of the playoffs, recording at least one point in 15 of the Kings’ 18 playoff games. On top of his offensive production Kopitar has put together a clinic with his defensive play. If the Kings eliminate Chicago tonight, Kopitar likely have had an impact on it.
Outside of Kopitar there has been plenty of success throughout out the Kings roster that has helped get them to where they are. Kings rookies, Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, have combined for nine goals and 22 points in the post season. Talk about young guns.
On the back-end, Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin have scored eight goals in the post season. Both Doughty and Muzzin scored a goal in game four to help push the Blackhawks to the brink of elimination.
Perhaps the biggest factor in this series so far has been the Kings’ play against Patrick Kane. Since coming into the league Kane has been a big time player for the Blackhawks. He has been the exact opposite during this series. Kane has only recorded one assist and has a minus-three rating through four games. If the Kings can shut Kane down for one more game the probability of them advancing is that much better.
Will the Kings be Western Conference Champions at the end of the night, or will we be seeing a game six in Los Angeles in a few days? We will find out in just a few hours.
Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time.