The defending Stanley Cup champions played like it in the second period, cutting the Blackhawks’ lead in half and generally dominating the play. It was nothing like their lackluster start in the first period of a win-or-go-home Game 5.
The Kings scored a shorthanded goal when Dwight King pounced on a rebound and slammed the puck behind Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. Justin Williams made the play happen with a determined rush down the ice and a shot on goal despite tight defensive pressure.
Jonathan Quick was credited with the second assist, his first in the postseason.
Quick made an excellent save on Marian Hossa moments later to keep the Kings close.
Anze Kopitar just missed tying the score in the final moments of the period, but Crawford got a piece of his shot and deflected the puck over the net and out of harm’s way/
Kings coach Darryl Sutter said during a TV interview it was important to win the period.
Mission accomplished.
First period recap:
Blackhawks 2, Kings 0
The Kings started with a whimper rather than a bang in a must-win Game 5, with goaltender Jonathan Quick unable to stop a perimeter shot from Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith. Quick seemed to be in position, but the puck somehow slipped between his legs for a 1-0 lead.
Then, with the Kings looking like a bunch of kids playing in their driveway, Chicago’s Patrick Kane pounced on a loose puck and beat a hopelessly out of position Quick for a 2-0 lead. Kane’s goal sealed the notion that Quick was human, after all.
Chicago scored two goals on its first five shots.
The Kings countered by going more than half of the first period without a shot on Corey Crawford’s net. Jeff Carter finally put one on goal with 9:18 left in the first, and they finished with only four by period’s end. The Blackhawks had 10 shots on Quick.
The Kings went into Game 5 averaging only two goals per game, so they had a tough battle ahead if they hoped to rally and force a Game 6 on Monday in Los Angeles. The Boston Bruins await the winner of the Kings-Blackhawks series.
