LOS ANGELES -- When Bryan Bickells shot slipped out of Jonathan Quicks usually
inescapable glove and trickled into the Los Angeles net early, the Chicago
Blackhawks figured Game 4 might be their chance to snap the Kings daunting
streak of home dominance.
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Marian Hossas shot eluded Quick for the go-ahead goal two periods later, the
Blackhawks knew they had cracked their foes star goalie and the formula for
winning at Staples Center. The Kings are teetering in the Western Conference
finals -- and Chicago needs just one more win to topple the defending Stanley
Cup champions. Hossa scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, and
the Blackhawks moved to the brink of the Stanley Cup finals with a 3-2 victory
Thursday night, ending Los Angeles 15-game winning streak at home. "They were
playing so well at home, and to finally break that streak, were happy about it,"
Hossa said. "We knew about it. We talked about it before the game. We were
hoping to break it, and we got it." Corey Crawford made 19 saves, and
Patrick Kane tapped in the tying goal as Chicago rallied from a second-period
deficit to beat the Kings. Los Angeles hadnt lost in its rink since March 23,
including eight playoff games. Bickell had a goal and an assist for the
top-seeded Blackhawks, who took a 3-1 series lead even without suspended
defenceman Duncan Keith. After losing Game 3 in listless fashion, the Blackhawks
had a solution to every dilemma, from the Kings two early leads to the absence
of Chicagos ice-time leader and top defenceman. "We knew our defence was going
to step up, and they did," Bickell said. "We had a good feeling coming in. We
had a bitter taste from the last game. They had a big start, but we stuck with
it and eventually got it back." Game 5 is Saturday night in Chicago.
Slava Voynov and Dustin Penner scored for the Kings, who had the NHLs longest
home post-season winning run since 2009. The champs know they are in trouble
after failing to hold on to a late lead in front of their Conn Smythe
Trophy-winning goalie. "Its an incredibly skilled team," Kings defenceman
Drew Doughty said of Chicago. "Were not getting into something we didnt know.
When you turn the puck over like that at the blue lines, with the skill they
have, its only a matter of time before they put one on the scoreboard. Hopefully
we learned our lesson, and weve got to win the next one." The Blackhawks thrived
without Keith, who served a one-game suspension for high-sticking Jeff Carter in
the face during the second period of Game 3. Sheldon Brookbank filled in while
Chicago played strong team defence in front of Crawford, allowing just two shots
by the desperate Kings in the third period. "Right from the first couple shifts,
we were moving our feet, playing with speed," said defenceman Brent Seabrook,
who led Chicago with 26:20 of ice time. "We were getting in on the forecheck and
making good plays. It was big for our group to come back with a good effort."
Los Angeles hadnt lost a playoff game at home since Game 4 of the Stanley Cup
finals last season, winning nine straight overall. The Kings also had been
outstanding when playing with a lead in front of Quick, who stopped 25 shots,
but Los Angeles uncharacteristically surrendered that 2-1 lead late in the
second period. The high-scoring Kane ending his seven-game goal drought in a
quiet post-season by charging into the crease to tap home the tying goal on a
rebound of Niklas Hjalmarssons shot and Bickells deflection late in the second
period. Hjalmarsson finished with two assists. After Los Angeles killed a
penalty to open the third period, Michal Handzus caught the Kings napping and
set up a break with the speedy Hossa, who ripped a precise shot for his seventh
goal of the post-season. "Thats one thing that (coach) Darryl (Sutter) has been
hard on us for right now," Doughty said. "Were making too many turnovers, in the
neutral zone especially. That was a cause of two of the goals. We made turnovers
and they came back down on odd-man rushes and scored. If we want to win, its
something we cant be doing." The Kings played their third straight game without
centre Mike Richards, who has an apparent concussion after a big hit from
Chicagos Dave Bolland in the series opener. Richards was the Kings leading
post-season scorer with 10 points when he got hurt. Los Angeles unbeaten stretch
at home ended in unusual fashion with the blown lead, and the low-scoring Kings
title defence could be over in two days. The NHL hasnt had a repeat champion
since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998, and Los Angeles has managed just eight
goals in four games against the powerful Blackhawks. "They didnt have many great
scoring chances," Crawford said. "We mostly kept them to the outside. It was
great for us to shut them down." Chicago needs one win in three games to advance
to its second Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1992. The Blackhawks have been
mostly rolling since their 5-2 victory in the season opener at Los Angeles in
January, ruining the Kings banner-raising ceremony. The Blackhawks hadnt won a
playoff round in the past two seasons since their Stanley Cup triumph,
replenishing their roster on the fly around their talented young core. Just nine
players remain from the championship team, but its safe to say the rebuild is
complete for a team that won its second Presidents Trophy with a 36-7-5 regular
season, followed by a gutsy rally from a 1-3 series deficit against Detroit to
escape the second round. The Kings opened Game 4 with the same urgency they
showed two days earlier, forcing their way into Chicagos zone and preventing the
Blackhawks usual slick passing. Los Angeles fourth line created the first goal
just 3:28 in when Kyle Clifford passed from behind Chicagos net to Voynov, who
skated in alone for a slap shot past Crawford. The goal was Voynovs sixth of the
post-season, extending his single-season playoff record for Kings defencemen.
Chicago responded, easily killing a penalty while holding Los Angeles without a
shot for about 11 minutes. The Blackhawks evened it on an innocent-looking play
by Bickell, whose wobbly shot somehow got out of Quicks glove for his eighth
goal of the post-season. Bickell is on a remarkable playoff run before
unrestricted free agency this summer, scoring a goal in each of the past three
games and five of seven overall. The Kings went back ahead early in the second
period on another strong shift by their newly assembled big line featuring
Carter, Penner and rookie Tyler Toffoli, who has taken Richards place in the
lineup. They also victimized the Blackhawks third defensive pairing: Carter
drove the net while Chicagos Nick Leddy failed to knock him off the puck, and
Penner swept home the rebound of Carters backhand when Brookbank couldnt move
him out of the crease. Chicago tied it late in the period when Hjalmarsson
launched a long shot through Bickells screen and past Quick. Kane tapped it home
for a much-needed boost for the prolific scorer who had managed just two goals
in the playoffs after getting 23 in the regular season. After Hossa scored his
second goal of the series, Quick made an exceptional glove save on Kane later in
the third period. But Quick and the Kings have yielded 10 goals in the series --
the same number they gave up in six first-round games and seven second-round
games. "Its a loss. Theyre all the same," Quick said. "Weve just got to win one
game. Thats all weve got to do." NOTES: The Kings lost at home in regulation
just four times in the regular season. ... Brookbank played only 6:50 and was a
minus-2, but coach Joel Quenneville praised his work. ... Los Angeles captain
Dustin Brown has one goal in the last nine games, none in the conference finals.
Top scorer Anze Kopitar has one goal in 13 games, also none in this series.
Brown and Kopitar tied for the NHL playoff scoring lead last season with 20
points apiece.
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