Sunday, December 19, 2010
Kings: Blackhawks pull a three-peat
By Dan Arritt
Chicago Blackhawks 3, Kings 2
Eight keys to the game:
THE FACTS: The Kings gave up two goals in the second period and couldn’t rally in third, falling to 0-3 against the Blackhawks this season.
THE STAT: The Blackhawks allowed just one power play after playing a penalty-free game Friday night in a 4-1 victory against visiting Detroit.
TURNING POINT: Twenty-five seconds after Kings rookie Kyle Clifford tied the score in the second period with his second NHL goal, the Blackhawks regained the lead on a goal by Duncan Keith and never gave it up.
HOT: After going his first 19 games without a point, Clifford now has five points in his last eight games.
NOT: Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stopped a career-high 51 shots in 5-0 victory at Detroit last Monday, but has allowed eight goals in his two starts since, both losses.
GOOD MOVE: Quick did earn an assist on the second goal by the Kings, hitting Anze Kopitar with an outlet pass. Kopitar then passed off to Wayne Simmonds, who scored 1:18 into the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2.
BAD MOVE:Dustin Brown was whistled for a questionable boarding penalty with 2:47 left in the game, essentially ending the Kings’ chances of a comeback.
NOTABLE: Chicago played without two of its biggest scoring threats, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, who were out with injuries. Another forward, Viktor Stalberg, was also sidelined with an upper-body injury.
