After two in Chicago: Blackhawks 3, Kings 1

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Patrick Sharp-Jonathan Toews-Troy Brouwer line gave the Kings fits again in the second period. Kings Coach Terry Murray continued to use Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty as a shutdown defense pair against that line but they were overmatched and couldn’t move Brouwer away from the front of the net and prevent him from screening Jonathan Quick.

That duo was on the ice for both goals by the Blackhawks in the second period, which ended with Chicago building a 3-1 lead.

The Kings actually scored first and tied it at 1:34 on a surprisingly skillful play by Kyle Clifford. He took a pass from Michal Handzus and took advantage of some miscommunication among the Blackhawks’ defensemen, cutting in from the left wing and through the slot, switching from his forehand to his backhand. He ended up on his belly but got the puck past Corey Crawford for his second goal this season.

But the Blackhawks regained the lead on the next shift, merely 25 seconds later. Sharp made the play by cutting and turning along the left-wing boards and passing the puck back to the point to Duncan Keith, who shot through traffic and beat Quick for his third goal of the season.

Fernando Pisani extended Chicago’s lead to 3-1 at 12:25. Justin Williams took a shot in Chicago’s end that caromed crazily off the boards and zipped into the neutral zone. Dave Bolland caught up with it and skated up the right side. He passed to his left, where Bryan Bickell tipped it before it went to Pisani, who scored on a wrist shot from about 25 feet out on the left side.

More to come later, at www.latimes.com/sports
Helene Elliott in Chicago