The NHL Playoffs are continuing on Thursday with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings as Game 4 of the Western Conference finals picks up in California, while the Penguins and Bruins on the Eastern side are nearly finished, as Boston is up 3-0 on Pittsburgh after winning in double overtime in Game 3.
The Blackhawks won the first two games of the series at home to take a 2-0 lead on the Kings, but Los Angeles bounced back in Game 3 with a 3-1 victory to bring things to 2-1 in the series. The Kings won the Stanley Cup from the eighth seed last season so they won't worry about coming from behind and they already came back from one 2-0 deficit earlier in the playoffs against the Blues and they look ready to do it again. The team got goals from three different players as Slava Voynov and Justin Williams scored, while the Blackhawks got one goal in the second period from Bryan Bickell. The Kings scored one goal in each period and Jonathan Quick was much better than earlier in the series, making 19 saves in the win.
Corey Crawford has been excellent for the Blackhawks and he had 25 saves in the loss in Game 3 and is looking to rebound in Game 4. The Blackhawks started the season on a record streak and they continued that strong play in the playoffs as they came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings to advance to the next round after winning Game 7 in overtime. Brent Seabrook won the game for the Blackhawks and he has played well in the series and along with Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks forwards will need to step up.
Crawford has been solid through the playoffs and Quick plays very well at home and Game 4 could come down to the play of the goaltenders. Sharp is leading the Blackhawks in scoring, while Duncan Keith is tops in assists, but he will be out of the game on Thursday after his high stick on Jeff Carter, who was leading the team with 11 points and six assists. The Kings may also be without Richards in the game and he is leading the team in assists with eight.
Keith was handed a one game suspension after the NHL said that the high stick called for more than just a penalty. Carter was hit after Keith's stick came up and hit him in the face and chipped a tooth and needed 20 stitches. The move came after Carter hacked at the defenseman's hand after the four minute double minor, he now has to serve the suspension. Keith said he did not mean to hit Carter in the face but said he went after him in retaliation and now he will have to sit out. The Penguins and Bruins series is now 3-0 in favor of Boston after the Bruins won in double overtime on Wednesday night and now PIT is on the brink. The winner was scored by Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci got his team leading ninth goal in the contest and now Boston is poised to advance against the number one seed in the East.