Down 2-1 heading into Monday’s Game 4, the Chicago Blackhawks are facing a must-win scenario for the first time in two rounds. It won’t be easy, challenging an L.A. Kings team that is firing on multiple cylinders, fuelled by stellar goaltending and unrivaled scoring depth. It will take a monster game for the Blackhawks to come out on top tonight, and an even bigger miracle for Chicago to bounce back from 3-1 should they drop tonight’s contest. Here are five storylines to watch heading into the big game.
1. The kids are alright
Tyler Toffoli, 22, and Tanner Pearson, 21, have both been a revelation flanking Jeff Carter on the Kings’ hottest line. Despite both playing in the neighbourhood of only 10 minutes per game in the series, they’ve both made a major impact on the offensive end. Toffoli has scored a goal in every game thus far, while Pearson has four points in three games. The two played in the AHL together and can credit some of their success to that chemistry, to say nothing of how well they’ve worked Carter into the mix — or is it the other way around? The trio is playing like the strongest line in hockey right now, and their point-per-game-plus production likely wasn’t something the Blackhawks expected before the series began. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain their hot streak Monday, given that you’d expect the Hawks to apply more pressure on this line in an attempt to cool them down.
2. Speaking of…
A seven-game series in any sport almost always comes down to adjustments and which side is able to make the right ones at the right time. With that in mind, keep an eye on the Jonathan Toews line, as we saw coach Joel Quenneville change his matchups during the last game so that his best defensive forward is paired against Carter, who, by the way, is second in the NHL in scoring in the playoffs with 19 points in 17 games and notched three points in Game 3’s OT victory.
3. But then again…
Part of the danger of this Kings team is its depth, which makes it harder for the Blackhawks to play the matchup game knowing that they must pick their poison. The top three scorers in the playoffs are, in order, Anze Kopitar (20 points), Carter (19) and Marian Gaborik (15). All Kings. More important, all guys who play on different lines. The ability for the Kings to spread out their scoring across three lines is an incredible asset, particularly as the games begin to mount and fatigue inevitably becomes a factor.
4. Go to the mirror
If it weren’t for Henrk Lundqvist, we’d be looking at the Kings’ Jonathan Quick (10 wins, 2.72 GAA, .911 save percentage) and Chicago’s Corey Crawford (eight wins, 2.23 GAA, .923 save percentage) as the playoff MVPs thus far. Both have been incredibly solid and have played each other to a virtual draw this series.
It should be worrisome to some degree that Quick has appeared to excel late in games while Crawford is keeping pucks out of the net early (the Blackhawks have led every game this series, but surrendered leads late in the last two). However, Chicago hasn’t lost three straight all season long, and looking at the postseason numbers, Crawford has played out of his mind after dropping two consecutive games, allowing one goal total in two games, stopping 61 of 62 shots. So history suggests a shutdown performance from the Hawks goalie tonight.
5. The Justin Williams School of Success
From most every measure, it’s safe to say that, for both teams, the stars are playing like it (save for Patrick Kane, who has yet to find the back of the net this series). This series may come down to who shines brightest. But as if often the case, all it takes is a big game from an unsung hero to make the difference, and the Kings happen to employ a guy who’s made a name for himself doing just that. So will tonight be another Justin Williams takeover game, or will another role player play the part in Game 4?
