Game Thread: Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks 12/30/13 | 8:00pm

[Cobiemonster]

vs.

at

Game Time: 8:00pm EST/5:00pm PST - NBCSN​

KINGS (25-10-4) at BLACKHAWKS (27-7-7)

TV: TSN2, NBCSN, CSN-CH

Last 10: Los Angeles 7-3-0; Chicago 7-1-2

Season series: This is the second game this season between the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago won the first game, 3-1, on Dec. 15 at United Center.

Big story: As the Blackhawks and Kings each hit the midpoint of their 2013-14 season schedules, the teams are where everyone thought they would be: fighting for the top spot in the Western Conference.

While the Kings trail the Ducks in the Pacific Division despite one of the best records in the West, the Blackhawks are right with Anaheim atop the conference. As the West's top teams position themselves for home ice in the late rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring, every point in games between those teams will be pivotal. Two of those points will be on the line Monday night in a rematch of the 2013 Western Conference Final and a potential 2014 postseason preview.

Team Scope:

Kings: The Pacific has looked like the League's best division for most of the season and to some extent, that's left the Kings a victim of their schedule. Los Angeles is currently in third place despite winning seven of its past 10 games. That tumble is partly the result back-to-back losses in the Kings' past two games after starting December with nine wins in their first 10.

L.A.'s loss in its past game on Saturday night was particularly frustrating, as the Kings tied the Nashville Predators, 2-2 after pulling goalie Ben Scrivens in the final minute only to see the Predators win the game 10 seconds later on a goal by Mike Fisher that was allowed to stand after initially being reviewed.

"It's an extremely frustrating way to lose a hockey game," Scrivens said.

The Kings' visit to Chicago is their second stop on a four-game road trip. After facing the Blackhawks, the Kings will visit the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues.

Blackhawks: After a brief stretch when the Blackhawks endured a relative scoring drought by Chicago standards, the defending champs seem to have found their scoring touch. Chicago has lit the lamp 17 times in the past three games, including a 7-2 blitzing of the division rival Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, in which Patrick Sharp celebrated his birthday by scoring a hat trick.

On Saturday night the Blackhawks seemed to continue the offensive trend, but their defense didn't follow suit. Despite holding a two-goal lead at three separate points during the game Chicago fell to the St. Louis Blues in a shootout, 6-5.

"We had a couple looks in OT and the shootout, two chances as well," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "They really turned it up in the second period, and we didn't have the great response that we needed, but we're still in pretty good shape."

Their game against the Kings on Monday will be the Blackhawks' last of 2013. Chicago opens the New Year with a brief road trip to face the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.

Who's hot: Kings forward Anze Kopitar has a goal and three assists in his past four games. ... Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has six assists in his past three games.

Injury report: Each team will be without its starting goalie from last season's playoff series; Jonathan Quick (strained groin) of the Kings and Chicago's Corey Crawford (lower-body injury) remain out.

Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks - 12/30/2013

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

I don't expect us to win this game especially at Chicago again, we just don't match up well with them nothing special here meh!

But hopefully they prove me wrong after that pathetic loss to Nashville

 

[Cobiemonster]

I don't expect us to win this game especially at Chicago again, we just don't match up well with them nothing special here meh!

But hopefully they prove me wrong after that pathetic loss to Nashville

Kings are definitely going to need to have a better effort to win that's for sure

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Chicago is the defending Stanley Cup Champions so to regain the crown the Kings have to find a way to beat the Blackhawks. They have lost at home so they aren't unbeatable.

Ox

 

[davnlaguna]

Kings win this in a blowout

 

[pete6835]

Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll changed places, so tonight’s lineup could look something like this:

Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Jeff Carter
Dustin Brown – Mike Richards – Justin Williams
Trevor Lewis – Jarret Stoll – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Jordan Nolan

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Slava Voynov
Willie Mitchell – Matt Greene
Alec Martinez

Martin Jones
Ben Scrivens

If the Kings do return to six defensemen, Colin Fraser would center Clifford and Nolan, as indicated by this morning’s line rushes.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Go Kings Go!!!

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Keep staying physical Kings!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Blackhawks score first - 1-0 - come on Kings let's go!!!

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

FUUUCCCKKKK!!! MAN!!!

 

[pete6835]

WTF Richards???

 

[davnlaguna]

Outplay them for 7 minutes and ..

 

[Cobiemonster]

That was a bad pinch-in by Jake Muzzin, it created the 2 on 1 in the first place

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

But the Kings had negated the 2-on-1. Muzzin blocked the pass and the puck went to Richards who couldn't handle it and it went right to Saad who one-timed it right over Jones' glove. Good play by Saad but a little lucky on the bounce off Richards' stick also.

Ox

 

[pete6835]

Ok, what the hell happened to Voynov. He's horrible

 

[Cobiemonster]

Kings need some guys on offense to step up - the Hawks do give up some goals so the Kings need to start getting the puck in the net more

 

[Cobiemonster]

But the Kings had negated the 2-on-1. Muzzin blocked the pass and the puck went to Richards who couldn't handle it and it went right to Saad who one-timed it right over Jones' glove. Good play by Saad but a little lucky on the bounce off Richards' stick also.

Ox

It started as a 2 on 1 though and it caused one of the forwards to have to come back when it wasn't necessary for the d-man to pinch, with three forwards already in that area

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

I get what you're saying but the Kings inability to control the puck along the boards also figured into the play. I've never seen such a big team as the Kings get beat along the boards as much as they do.

Ox

 

[PuckinUgly57]

It started as a 2 on 1 though and it caused one of the forwards to have to come back when it wasn't necessary for the d-man to pinch, with three forwards already in that area

Horrible decision by Muzzin. He should have chipped it in and backed off, the Kings had 3 forwards in attackng position.

Greene did a great job of breaking it up, and Richards just flat out whiffed so the Hawks caught a break but Muffin is responsible for so many of these types of plays it's not even funny.

He's quickly approaching the J-Blow hate level. At least that mook put up 40+ points one season. This guy is just a massive defensive liability almost on par with Jack Johnson.

 

[pete6835]

Oh boy... Stoll type penalty

and Greene taking the face-off lol