WCF Preview: #1 Chicago Blackhawks vs #4 Los Angeles Kings

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Well the NHL couldn’t have asked for better conference finals than the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings. All four teams have won a Stanley Cup in the past as many years (Pittsburgh in ’09, Chicago in ’10, Boston in ’11 and Los Angeles in ’12).

Chris will have the Eastern Conference Finals preview.

Experience will not be a factor in this series despite the Kings’ winning of the Stanley Cup last season. The Blackhawks know what it takes to win the Cup as most of their core guys are still on the team from their championship season in 2009-10.

Chicago and LA are two dominant teams with strengths all across the board. The advantage Chicago has is offense. When Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad start playing to their full ability, they will be hard to stop. LA’s defense is strong, but they may not be able to shut down Chicago’s second and third lines.

Matchups will be a priority throughout the series.

The Kings have the leg up in the goaltending department. Jonathan Quick has been nothing short of phenomenal for his team. Quick was instrumental in their Game 7 victory over the Sharks, making gumby-like saves. You can only expect the same against the ‘Hawks. Quick is their anchor and if he fails, the Kings fail.

The Blackhawks have excellent puck moving defensemen from top to bottom in their lineup. Duncan Keith is the player that comes to mind most often, but even his linemate Brent Seabrook can as well. It was Seabrook that went coast to coast to win the series in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7. Nick Leddy, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Michal Roszival can do the job as well.

Young Kings’ defensemen Slava Voynov and Jake Muzzin have been instrumental on the power play and in offensive situations. However, they will both be limited by the Blackhawks’ physical play, thus may forcing head coach Darryl Sutter to reinsert Alec Martinez into the lineup.

The X-factor for Chicago is Jonathan Toews, captain of the Blackhawks. Toews seems to easily be frustrated if shutdown, as shown in Game 4 in Detroit where he took three penalties that cost his team the game. But when Toews is relaxed, he plays outstanding.

His offensive production will have to increase. Toews has only one goal to show so far throughout the playoffs.

LA’s X-factor is Drew Doughty. He is going to have to shut down Chicago’s top line of Toews, Kane and Sharp; and make their lives difficult. If it doesn’t happen, Quick will be left out to dry shift after shift. Each playoff game Doughty is in, he seems to have matured bit-by-bit. Look for Doughty to adjust his game a little bit early in Game 1 from an aggressive style to a more “stay at home” style.

Prediction: LA in 7