Hawks vs. Kings Playoff Betting?
Blackhawks Look to Avoid Elimination Again – Visit Kings in Game 6
The Los Angeles Kings wasted an opportunity to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks and advance to the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night when they let the defending Stanley Cup champs score five goals and win in comeback fashion.
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Chicago (56-26-9-8) at Los Angeles (57-34-4-6)
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, May 30, 2014
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Broadcast: NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Kings Lead Series 3-2
Blackhawks vs. Kings Betting Lines
Chicago Blackhawks +1½ -275 +115 Ov 5 -125
Los Angeles Kings -1½ +230 -127 Un 5 +113
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Los Angeles gets another chance to get the job done on Friday night when they host Chicago in Game 6 of the Western Final. The best defensive club in the NHL had an uncharacteristic outing Wednesday – expect the Kings to tighten up and make things a whole lot more difficult on the Hawks.
A lot of things went right for the Chicago Blackhawks in game 5 of the Western Final – the first being the five goals they scored on Jonathan Quick.
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The Hawks finally got contributions from a number of players that had been absent during the series and the anemic power play finally did some damage, allowing the Blackhawks to live another day.
Credit Joel Quenville for tweaking his lines and giving the Kings a new look heading into Game 5. Quenville moved Marian Hossa back to the top unit with Jonathan Toews, then replaced Michal Handzus with Andrew Shaw between Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad. The result? Kane quadrupled his series output and had four assists, Saad had a goal and two assists after being virtually invisible against Los Angeles and Shaw had two assists along the way – finally giving Chicago some much needed depth and some secondary scoring.
Not only did Chicago`s newly formed second line combine for nine points, but they held the scorching Jeff Carter line to just one goal in Game 5.Slowing LAs weapons and creating new weapons of their own won the day for Chicago and allowed them to travel cross country to play Game 6 Friday night.
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Chicago`s much maligned defense has now held the Kings off the score sheet for nearly 49 minutes – something that is going to have to continue if the Hawks want to stretch this series to seven. Corey Crawford, despite giving up four goals was finally a difference maker for Chicago as he made a number of highlight-reel saves.
The Los Angeles Kings were maybe due for a bad game after dominating the Blackhawks for 3+ games. Jonathan Quick looked average giving up juicy rebound after juicy rebound and the Blackhawks were afforded plenty of room in the offensive zone. Translation – the Kings didn`t play their game and they paid the price!
That`s the bad news – now for the good! Los Angeles scored four goals in Game 5 and they did outshoot the Blackhawks 45-44 in the Hawks’ building. LA had their chances to close out the series in the third period and in overtime but were stoned by a suddenly stout Corey Crawford.
Los Angeles is still the highest scoring team in the NHL Playoffs and there is no way that Jonathan Quick gives up five goals on Friday night. The Kings` problems can be fixed – they just have to get back to their brand of hockey.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• CHI are 7-2 in their last 9 games following a win.
• Over is 6-2-1 in CHI last 9 road games.
• CHI are 7-20 in their last 27 road games.
• LA are 8-1 in their last 9 Fri. games.
• Over is 5-2-2 in LA last 9 home games.
• LA are 54-25 in their last 79 home games.
• CHI are 21-9 in the last 30 meetings.
In the last two seasons the Chicago Blackhawks are an astounding 12-0 in Game 5, 6 and 7 in the playoffs – they have a knack of raising their games when it matters most. But the Hawks are just 2-6 on the road so far in the playoffs – not good! The Kings have had their share of losing streaks in the playoffs but I can`t see another one starting in Game 6. Consider Wednesday`s game as a hiccup on their way to another Stanley Cup appearance – their second in three years.
Pick: LA Kings -127
