The LA Kings Journey To The Stanley Cup: Western Conference Final – Chicago Blackhawks

After beating the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings were dubbed the “Kings of California”. L.A. had only one day in between their Game 7 victory over Anaheim and the first game of the Western Conference Final. To make it more interesting, it was the second year in a row that L.A. and Chicago would face each other for a shot at the Stanley Cup. In the previous season, Chicago dethroned the Kings ending their championship defense. L.A. could not figure out Chicago until a double overtime Game Five, but by then it was too late. Chicago would win the conference and then go on to win the Stanley Cup, making it really burn every time that song “Chelsea Dagger” plays.

Round 3: Western Conference Final Vs Chicago Blackhawks

Game 1, May 18

Kings 1 at Blackhawks 3 – Chicago Leads series 1-0

Chicago had not lost a single game at home in these playoffs, going for their seventh straight win at the United Center. The Kings put up a valiant effort but Chicago was rolling at that point. The impetus from their entire playoff run translated to Game 1 as the Blackhawks started strong with a goal by Brandon Saad on a power play. Four minutes into the second period Tyler Toffoli was improving on his playoff experience to tie the game 1-1 with his fourth of the postseason.

Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews capped the scoring as Chicago won 3-1. It was a tough loss, but one that Kings fans knew their team put the effort into. Chicago did not look like the offensive juggernaut that gut-punched the Kings out of the playoffs last season. The Kings were in this and throwing a few gut punches of their own, metaphorically. Los Angeles was battling and Chicago knew early that this was not going to be a repeat of 2013.

Game 2, May 21

Kings 6 at Blackhawks 2 – Series tied 1-1

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So it looks like we have a series here! The Kings were certainly looking like they were going to get smacked out of the playoffs once again as Chicago took a big 2-0 early lead. Nick Leddy scored in the first period; with Ben Smith getting the puck in the net within two minutes of the start of the second period. LA had tightened it up their defense which helped their offense in several transition plays. The Kings were roaring back in this game.

Justin Williams has scored the first goal at the end of the second period, which gave Los Angeles some breathing room. But for this performance they had a whole new wind as the Kings saved their best work for the final act as L.A. turned up the drama in this hockey opera that was also known as ‘The Jeff Carter Show’. Along goals by Jake Muzzin and Toffoli, Carter got his 2nd playoff hat trick of his career as the Kings scored six unanswered goals right in front of the Chicago home crowd. They saw it, they could not unsee it.

The Kings had not only done the impossible by beating Chicago on their home ice, but they smashed them. They smashed them good. Now it was back to Los Angeles.

Game 3, May 24

Blackhawks 3 at Kings 4 – Los Angeles Leads series 2-1

The Kings had finished strong in this game as Chicago was not looking to go down 3-1 on their title defense. Jonathan Toews had scored twice in the first period. The first one was off a shorthanded goal where the Kings got caught in a line change. Kings fans hoped that would not be the theme of the night. Luckily Slava Voynov, whose name had not been called much in this series, came up big when he had the puck at the top of the left circle and shot it through an opening in traffic to score against Corey Crawford to make it was 2-1.

Carter changed that eight minutes into the second when he got another assist from Tanner Pearson. Carter then played helper as he got the puck to Toffoli who made it 3-2 Kings. In the third, Drew Doughty rubbed it in as he scored from the top of the right circle which set off Staples Center. Although, things got quiet really quick as the Blackhawks managed to get a goal with five seconds left in the game. Reality set in for Kings fans that Chicago was a goal away from tying. But then a more realistic truth came about, it would have taken a miracle for the Blackhawks to get this goal. Luckily, the Kings did not blow it and won the game to go up in the series 2 to 1.

Game 4, May 26

Blackhawks 2 at Kings 5 – Los Angeles leads series 3-1

This game was just murder for the Los Angeles Kings. There was never a point in the game where the L.A. was not in complete control. From the start of the game L.A. took the wind out of Chicago’s sails. The game was the Kings.  The series was becoming the Kings and revenge was becoming a reality for the Kings. L.A. was dominating Chicago so bad that it did not matter the Blackhawks scored in the game. L.A. struck early and they struck hard.

Jake Muzzin,

,

, Drew Doughty started the scoring for the game in that order. Chicago could not do anything until 14 minutes into the third quarter. Brandon Saad and

scored but could not get any closer to the net as L.A. shut down their powerful offense. L.A. was not even finished as Tanner Pearson put the exclamation point on the game to finish with an empty netter. The Kings were down zero games to three in the San Jose series and won four in a row to shock the Sharks. L.A. now had a chance to win another four in a row, but this time against the raining Stanley Cup champions.

Game 5, May 28

Kings 4 at Blackhawks 5 (2OT) – Los Angeles leads series 3-2

The really creepy thing about this game was that it was not only the second consecutive Western Conference Final between Chicago and Los Angeles, but it was also consecutive Game Fives in the Western Conference Final that went to double overtime. Last season it was Chicago taking the game after a monstrous awakening by the Kings late in the contest. Unfortunately, the series and hopes for a back-to-back title ended. Could Los Angeles do the same thing to Chicago in these playoffs? No, they could’t. Two minutes into double overtime former King Michal Handzus put “Chelsea Dagger” through the heart of the Kings faithful. It’s cool though, nothing to worry about. The Kings were still up in the series 3-2 and this was heading back to Los Angeles.

Game 6, May 30

Blackhawks 4 at Kings 3 – Series tied 3-3

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This game climbed the ladder of intensity as no team pulled ahead by more than a goal as the game was tied three times before Patrick Kane hit the game-winner with four minutes left in regulation. Were things getting nervous around Los Angeles after Chicago just tied the series at 3 a piece? Maybe, especially with this thing heading back to Chicago. [Insert expletive here.]

It was another back-and-forth affair as the Kings had two one-goal leads, but in the 3rd quarter, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane finished the Kings in the last ten minutes. Every Kings fan entered Staples Center hoping that they could rub it in the face of Chicago and say “you took away our title defense, we’re now taking away yours”. But that would have to wait one more game.

Game 7, June 1

Kings 5 at Chicago 4 (OT) – Los Angeles wins series 4-3 and are the Western Conference Champions!

Drew Doughty said this was now a one game playoff. Winner goes to the Stanley Cup Final. Chicago came out strong and looked to have a ton of confidence as Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews made it 2-0 within eight minutes of the game start. The Kings answered right back as Jeff Carter and Justin Williams had made the game even in a chippy back-and-forth first period.

Chicago then got some insurance as Patrick Sharp added a third goal to end the period. Neither team was backing down as this was some damn good hockey. Tyler Toffoli resumed the scoring halfway through the second period as he put the puck in the net from an open left side. Patrick Sharp then scored his second goal on a power-play to give Chicago the 4-3 lead going into the second intermission. Luckily the Million Dollar Man, Marion Gaborik, tied the game 12 minutes in the third period. With no one able to budge, this game was going in overtime. Winner goes to the Stanley Cup final

Intensity did not describe it. Every shot that was attempted had Kings and Blackhawks fans on the edge of their seat. But the one shot that made Chicago fans remain in their seat and Kings jump up for joy, was when

flung in a shot that bounced off of a Chicago player over Corey Crawford and into the net. There would be no “Chelsea Dagger” tonight! The United Center was silenced as there was no soundtrack to the Kings celebrating on Chicago’s ice. It was beauty, eh.

The Kings had just completed their third straight Western Conference Final and were going back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in three years. It was real alright. Many said that whoever won between Chicago and Los Angeles would eventually be the Stanley Cup winner, which proved to be true, but the Kings were prepared. They just won their third Game Seven of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.

It was now time to meet the New York Rangers for the greatest trophy in all of sports.