Michal Handzus’ winning goal in double-overtime saved the Chicago Blackhawks’ season… for now. The reigning champions still have a lot of work to do, starting with Game 6 in LA, if they hope to defend their Stanley Cup crown in the finals.
Despite the Blackhawks’ win, the Los Angeles Kings remain in control of this series, and have two shots to win the right to face the winner of the Eastern Conference’s Habs-Rangers series (read out preview of Game 6 of that series here).
Got a read on this all-important game? Create a betting account and win big by picking the winner of this game and read on for our complete breakdown of the need-to-knows for Friday night.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings Western Conference Finals, Game 6 Preview
Game 1 –May 18, Los Angeles 1 at Chicago 3
Game 2 – May 21, Los Angeles 6 at Chicago 2
Game 3 – May 24, Chicago 3 at Los Angeles 4
Game 4 – May 26, Chicago 2 at Los Angeles 5
Game 5 – May 28, Los Angeles 4 at Chicago 5 (2OT)
Game 6 – May 30, 9:00 PM ET, Chicago (+110) at Los Angeles (-130); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Game 7 (if necessary) – June 1, 8:00 PM ET, Los Angeles at Chicago
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
Welcome to the Western Conference Finals, Patrick Kane. After recording just one point in the first four games of the series, the former Conn Smythe winner stepped up when his team needed him the most with four assists in the Blackhawks’ 5-4 double-OT win in Game 5, including one to set up Michal Handzus’ winning goal.
[sc:NHL240 ]Kane’s other struggling line-mates, Andrew Shaw and Brandon Saad, also shon, as the Blackhawks’ second line combined to score nine points in Game 5. Their revival couldn’t have come at a better time,.
Speaking of revivals, the Blackhawks special teams finally came back to life. After allowing five Kings power play goals in the last three games, Chicago held them 0-for-3 in Game 5, while scoring with a man advantage themselves.
The Blackhawks need their penalty kill to be on point in Los Angeles if they are to overturn their horrendous road playoff record. Chicago is just 2-6 away from home in these playoffs.
Betting on the Los Angeles Kings
Whatever head coach Darryl Sutter is instructing the Kings offense to do against the Blackhawks, it’s working. Despite falling in double-overtime in Game 5, the Kings put four more goals past Corey Crawford, bringing their total to 19 in the last four games.
While the second line of Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli-Tanner Pearson did the heavy lifting early in the series, top liners Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown are now making noise with goals in back-to-back games. Perhaps the Blackhawks can stop one line, but keeping both in-form lines quiet at the same time will be a tough task.
Jonathan Quick had his worst outing of the playoffs after conceding five goals, but don’t expect two straight bad games from the former Smythe winner, especially with Game 6 at home. Quick is 5-1 in his last six home games, while allowing just over two goals per game in those six games.
Writer’s Prediction
Corey Crawford and the Blackhawks just can’t stop the rampaging Kings from scoring, while Quick will be fired up with a close-out game at home. Take the Kings to win Game 6 at -130 and go back to the Stanley Cup finals.
If totals are more your flavor, take a look at over 5.0 (-125). These two teams have averaged seven goals a game in this series and only once had less than six, in Game 1.
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