CHICAGO – Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville believed his team played well for 38 minutes in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings.
"I don't know if we've seen a game like that all year where we're doing everything all right and all of a sudden it was a disaster," Quenneville said.
The series is so tight that every mistake, every penalty, every big save and every break is going to matter and that was shown on Wednesday when the Kings scored two third-period power-play goals that launched a 6-2 victory, tying the best-of-seven series 1-1.
BOX SCORE: Kings 6, Blackhawks 2
Kings center Anze Kopitar said the turning point was a big save that Kings goalie Jonathan Quick made on Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook on a 2-on-1 break. Kings coach Darryl Sutter thought a late second-period goal by Justin Williams was huge.
"We just were staying positive," Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "We knew we could win this game. We knew we hadn't had our best effort yet. We knew the third period was going to be our best period of the series so far."
It was easy to overlook that Jeff Carter had three goals and an assist because the Kings generated six unanswered goals.
"We did a lot of good things, stuff to build on," said Quick, who thwarted Seabrook when the Blackhawks led 2-0.
The Kings were fired up, even before they launched their third-period onslaught. In the second period, Doughty was seen slamming his stick on the bench.
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"We were giving up way too many odd-man rushes and we were leaving Quickie out to dry," Doughty said. "It was kind of frustrating because can't play a rush game with that team."
The Blackhawks shouldn't be surprised by the Kings' offensive flair because Los Angeles has a better goal-scoring average than Chicago in the postseason. This marks the 11th time in 16 games that the Kings have scored three or more goals. Los Angeles has outshot the Blackhawks in both games.
"We were adamant (going into the third period) about coming out and getting a goal early," Doughty said.
Carter's first goal came at 1:37 of the third period to tie the score 2-2.
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Against the Kings, the Blackhawks have a slimmer margin for error than they had in the second round against the Minnesota Wild.
You can expect that before Game 3, the Blackhawks will talk about cutting down on their penalties and their mistakes.
Chicago goalie Corey Crawford said the Blackhawks got into "a little bit of penalty trouble and they just took advantage."
"It was kind of a collapse I guess," Crawford said. "That happens. That wasn't our hockey team."
The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday
"Across the board, we can look at ourselves in the mirror and know that we can be better for Game 3," said Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp.
This Kings team is far more dangerous than the one that won the Stanley Cup in 2012. They don't need much of an opening to take control. Kopitar is the team's best offensive player and he didn't have a point Wednesday. That's how improved the offensive depth is.
The Kings showed the Blackhawks how quickly they can take over. Giving up five third-period goals is not how the defending champions usually roll.
Chicago was 7-0 at home before Game 2. Sutter's message before the third period was simply that the Blackhawks were going to lose at home sooner or later.
"It's tough to win in this building," Doughty said. "I don't think anyone in here had won a playoff game in this building."
PHOTOS: Best from the Western Conference Final
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