Thursday, May 22, 2014

Statement Made: LA Won't Let Chicago Get Away


Boy, when they say that teams don't want to give up those last minute goals in a period, the Los Angeles Kings gave a good example as to why. Those momentum shifts into an intermission can be a killer.

The Chicago Blackhawks were looking to make good use of home-ice advantage on Wednesday night, trying to go up 2-0 in the series before the two teams flew off to Los Angeles to play Game Three this weekend.  With a 2-0 lead in the game, late into the 2nd period, the Kings were able to strike late in the frame, thanks to a Justin Williams marker.  That's where it all went South for Chicago.

To start the 3rd period, Brandon Bollig took an early penalty, putting the Blackhawks down a man and it was Jeff Carter that made him pay with a goal, only 23 seconds into the man-advantage.  The avalanche of offense had begun, as the Kings scored again on another power play, three minutes later, then tacked on another two goals before too long and then Carter completed his hat-trick with an empty-netter with three and a half minutes to go.  Six unanswered goals from the Kings and it was a 6-2 final, tying up the series at one game a piece.

Carter finished the game as the marquee name, scoring the hat-trick and adding an assist for a 4-point night, while Jake Muzzin got credit for scoring the winning goal and Jonathan Quick made 25 saves for the victory.

ImplicationsWhat does this all mean?  Well, it means we have a new leader in the pool, as Gus M. has made his move to overtake Dale B., thanks to his Kings contingent.  Oh yeah, did I mention that Gus has two teams in the pool?  Right.  Well, they are now both in the money as well.  I'm not sure how this is supposed to work, but it did.  If I had to guess, it looks like he's going to finish 1-2 in the pool, thanks to the Rangers.  What a gamble!  It's paying off... twice.  How crazy is that?

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