Game 5 vs. Chicago Is Likely To Be The LA Kings Toughest Challenge Yet During 2014 Playoffs

May 28, 2014 by 1 Comment

LA Kings center Anze Kopitar (foreground), shown here being pursued by Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane during Game 4 of the 2014
Western Conference Final at Staples Center in Los Angeles on May 26, 2014.

LOS ANGELES — After the Los Angeles Kings soundly defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-2, in Game 4 of the 2014 Western Conference Final at Staples Center in Los Angeles on May 26, many media, pundits and fans alike declared the Blackhawks dead, and the series over.

The Blackhawks are trailing in the series, 3-1, facing elimination in tonight’s Game 5 in Chicago. But as the saying goes, there’s a reason they play the games, and as the Kings themselves have proven during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, coming back to win a series after being pushed to the brink of elimination is not impossible.

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2014 NHL Western Conference Final Preview: LA Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks

May 18, 2014 by Leave a comment

LA Kings center Anze Kopitar

ANAHEIM AND LOS ANGELES, CA — At this time one year ago, the Los Angeles Kings went into the Western Conference Final (WCF) against the Chicago Blackhawks a bruised, battered and banged up team, as several players continued to play despite having suffered injuries earlier in the playoffs.

To make matters worse, center Anze Kopitar was in the midst of a 34-game scoring slump, the longest drought of his National Hockey League career, and it could not have come at a worse time.

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2013 Western Conference Finals: Goaltending, Physical Style Should Help LA Kings Advance Past Chicago Blackhawks

June 1, 2013 by 1 Comment

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Heading into Game 1 of the 2013 Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Kings face their greatest challenge yet this season in the President’s Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks.

Having lost two of the three games against Chicago in the regular season might be a red flag for many. But the Kings won the last contest between the two teams on March 25, 5-4, at a time when the Kings were different team than the one the Blackhawks faced earlier in the season.

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Los Angeles Kings Spoil Blackhawks “Circus Trip”

November 30, 2008 by Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES — Since the Los Angeles Kings moved to Staples Center in 1999, there have been several times when they were forced to go on very long road trips while their arena was being used for other events.

But if you think the Kings are the only National Hockey League team that often has to play second fiddle at their own arena, guess again.

During a matinee affair on Saturday, the Kings handed the Chicago Blackhawks a 5-2 defeat in front of an announced crowd of 16,147 fans at Staples Center.

The loss culminated a 3-2-1 road trip for the ’Hawks, who hit the road with a circus occupying the United Center, their home arena, for two weeks. Read more of this post

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Another Miracle…Almost

February 24, 2008 by Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES — The concept of playing defense was definitely not the first thing on the minds of the Los Angeles Kings or the Chicago Blackhawks who squared off in front of an announced sell-out crowd of 18,118 fans at Staples Center during a matinee shootout on Saturday.

Jonathan Toews scored a goal and added an assist and Patrick Sharp scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist to lead the Blackhawks to a 6-5 overtime victory over the Kings. Read more of this post

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