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In a game where the Kings needed to win and get a ticket to the Stanley Cup, it was the Chicago Blackhawks that got the win at Staples Center. The Kings came into Game 6 with a home ice advantage and teasing their fans in a game that was in their hands, but blew the game in the last 9 minutes of the third period. Patrick Kane was the hero for the Hawks as he scored the game-winning goal in the 3rd period. Kane had 2 goals in Game 6 and 1 assist while Corey Crawford had 26 saves and 29 shots against him.
The Kings played strong and tight but it wasn’t enough to help them win the conference clinching game. In the first period, they outscored the Hawks in hits 21-9 in the first period and had only 8 shots with one goal in the first period. The Hawks had 9 shots in the first period but it wasn’t enough to put them in the game just yet.
As the 1st period took place, we learned that the Hawks were 1-6 when the opponent scored first and the Kings were 8-1 when scoring first, but apparently records didn’t matter. The Hawks’ offense played strong against the Kings’ tight defense and won 4-3 to take the series back to Chicago and hope to take game 7 at home and face the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup final. Dwight Kings opened the score for the Kings. With 3 minutes left in the 1st period, Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll created a beautiful play from behind the net to give it to Williams, who was alone and no defending, and wrist shot it in net between Crawford’s legs. This was King’s 2nd goal of the post season.
The Hawks would then score two goals in less than 2 minutes when the 2nd period took place. Duncan Keith was able to win a face off during a power play, which Seabrook took control of it passed it to Toews and pass it to Kane to tie the game.
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Not a minute and a half later, Patrick Sharp passed the puck to Ben Smith, who got the puck in behind the net of Jonathan Quick and helped the hawks take their first lead of Game 6. The Hawks had a chance to make the lead 3-1 but the goal post was the hero for the Kings and allowed the game to stay at 2-1.
Drew Doughty helped the Kings tie the game at 2-2 with a slap shot, scoring his 4th goal of the post-season and was from far distance, like most of his other goals this series.
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About 2 minutes later Alec Martinez gave the Kings a 3-2 lead in which Doughty passed the puck to Martinez and allowed to slap shot the puck and get it between Seabrook’s and Crawford’s legs.
Duncan Keith, who has looked great this post-season along with Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad, helped the Hawks tie the game at 3-3. Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw assisted Keith in the tie scoring play.
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With 3 minutes to go in the 3rd period, Kings fans were hoping that the Kings would take the lead but Patrick Kane shut down the hopes at Staples Center. Kane scored his second goal of the game and gave the Hawks their 4-3 lead and eventual game winning goal.
Kane (8), Keith (4) and Smith (4) all had goals for the Hawks while King (2), Doughty (4), and Martinez (3) all scored for the Kings. The Kings head back to United Center hoping to take Game 7 but with the Chicago Blackhawks having home court advantage, it will be very, very tough, I say again, very, very tough for the Kings to win.
Winner of Game 7 will face the New York Rangers next Wednesday, June 4.
Game 7 takes place at United Center this Sunday and the puck will drop at 8PM ET/5PM PT.