The Chicago Blackhawks did it! They stayed alive with a double overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. At 2:04 into the second overtime Michal Handzus scored to win the game. The 5-4 Hawks win forces a Game 6 on Friday night in Los Angeles. With the Kings leading the series 3-2, a win Friday night will send the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Just 3:40 into the game the Chicago Blackhawks had already scored twice, and were in command. Brent Seabrook scored on the power play, and Johnny Oduya scored on a wrist shot. The goals continued to keep rolling in the first period. The Kings pulled to within one when at 9:49 Jarret Stoll scored. Just over a minute later the Hawks responded when Brandon Saad scored with assists from Andrew Shaw and Patrick Kane. The seesaw battle continued when the red-hot Marian Gaborik scored his 11 playoff goal. The period ended with the Blackhawks leading 3-2.
The second period was much quieter on the scoreboard. The Kings, Dustin Brown scored to even the game at 3-3 at the 11:08 mark. The original shot by Gaborik was blocked by Brent Seabrook, but after a scramble Brown was able to sneak the puck past Corey Crawford. The Kings pulled ahead of the Hawks just two minutes later when Tanner Pearson scored. Pearson and Jeff Carter created a turnover in the neutral zone, and Pearson fired a shot from the right circle. The screened shot beat Crawford high blocker side.
Things continued to tighten up in the third period. The Blackhawks were able to tie the game with an early third period goal. Ben Smith fired a wrist shot past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. The game was now tied and overtime loomed.
The goaltending was very suspect in the first period, but as the game progressed both goaltenders made some very big saves. The Kings fired 44 shots on goal, and the Blackhawks fired 45 shots on goal. The teams battled to a scoreless first overtime, and Handzus double-overtime goal sealed the deal for the Blackhawks.
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After winning three straight the Kings streak was stopped. The playoffs have been a seesaw battle for the Kings. It will be interesting to see if a losing skid starts now, or if the Kings can rebound and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.