SBNation.com - Stanley Cup Playoffs: Blackhawks top Kings in Game 5 to stay alivehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2014-05-29T08:00:04-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/55236632014-05-29T08:00:04-04:002014-05-29T08:00:04-04:00Back to L.A.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I9eIalm6Jwh-EsG2DFQVIsacstM=/0x139:4000x2806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33644253/20140528_jla_bb6_383.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Playoff games don't get much more entertaining than the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Kings. </p>
<div class="row scores">
<div class="double-wrap">
<div class="single">
<div class="row inner">
<div class="third">
<span class="team"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a></span> <a target="new" href="http://www.secondcityhockey.com"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo/136/large_secondcityhockey.com.full.21288.png"></a> <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2014/5/28/5756876/blackhawks-vs-kings-game-5-complete-coverage">Recap</a>
</div>
<div class="third">
<span class="team"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a></span> <a href="http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com" target="new"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/blog/sbnu_logo/273/large_jewelsfromthecrown.com.full.14782.png"></a> <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2014/5/28/5760238/postgame-poll-kings-lose-a-heart-breaker-on-to-game-six">Recap</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="full-score">
<span class="score">5 <i>-</i> 4</span> <span class="series"> Kings lead, 3-2</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="read-more-nhl"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/a/nhl-playoffs-2014" target="new">NHL Playoff Bracket</a></div>
<div class="breaker"><span>3 things to know</span></div>
<div class="main-wrap">
<ul class="five-things">
<li>
<img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4525587/hescores.gif">
<h5>
<span>Michal Handzus</span> ... lends a hand</h5>
It wasn't Jonathan Toews. It wasn't Patrick Kane. It wasn't even <span>Marian Hossa</span> or Patrick Sharp. It was Michal Handzus, of all people, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759962/michal-handzus-game-5-overtime-goal">that came through in the big moment for the</a> Chicago Blackhawks in double overtime to force a Game 6 in the Western Conference Final. Who saw that coming? Nobody. Probably not even Michal Handzus, who scored just four goals during the regular season and had just one goal this postseason. It capped off a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759686/niklas-hjalmarsson-dustin-brown-stick-throw/in/5523663">thrilling</a> back-and-forth game (with one of the best overtimes of the playoffs) that saw the Blackhawks blow a 3-1 lead and then find a way to win.</li>
<li>
<h5>It's showtime</h5>
Even though it wasn't Kane that came through with the big goal in overtime, he was still a force for the Blackhawks on Wednesday, as he recorded four assists in his 28 minutes of ice-time and seemed to be a threat to score nearly every single time he touched the puck. For Kane, it was the first four-point playoff game of his career. He certainly picked a great time for it to happen.</li>
<li>
<img src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4524529/perason.gif">
<h5>
<span>Corey Crawford</span> still needs to be better</h5>
He ended up stopping enough shots to get the win, but Corey Crawford has not played particularly well in this series, and that includes his Game 5 performance. During the first five games of the series Crawford has managed just an .881 save percentage and gave up what could have been a season-ending goal to <span>Tanner Pearson</span> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759806/corey-crawford-tanner-pearson-goal/in/5523663">in the second period</a>. Fortunately for him the Blackhawks were able to put a five-spot on the board against Jonathan Quick. But if the Blackhawks are going to pull this thing off they're going to need more from their $36 million goalie.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="breaker"><span>Thursday Schedule</span></div>
<div class="main-wrap">
<div class="row next-games">
<div class="half blue">
<span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a></span> <i>Eastern Conference Final, Game 6</i><i>New York leads, 3-2</i><i>8 p.m. ET | NBCSN / CBC / RDS</i> <i>Madison Square Garden, New York</i>
</div>
</div>
</div>
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/29/5760274/stanley-cup-playoffs-2014-kings-blackhawks-game-5Adam Gretz2014-05-28T23:53:19-04:002014-05-28T23:53:19-04:00Michal Handzus forces Game 6
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LRh9xkm9PH11oaYSWKcZHUjtmi8=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33632055/494203011.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Probably not even Michal Handzus expected Michal Handzus to score the overtime winner in Game 5.</p> <p>The Stanley Cup champions are not going to go away without a fight.</p>
<p>The Chicago Blackhawks forced a Game 6 in the Western Conference Final with a thrilling 5-4 overtime win on Wednesday night. The game came to an end when Michal Handzus scored his second goal of the playoffs off of a beautiful pass from Brandon Saad.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4525587/hescores.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Hescores_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4525587/hescores.gif"></a> <br id="1401335569746"></p>
<p>That came just 2:04 into the second overtime and followed one of the most thrilling, back-and-forth overtime periods of the entire postseason, one that featured just nine stoppages and took only 26 minutes of real time to complete.</p>
<p>It's also pretty stunning that Handzus is the one that that ended it.</p>
<p>Not only because he scored just four goals in 59 regular season games and because this game was loaded with all-star talent, but also because the Blackhawks' depth down the middle has been a subject of criticism lately.</p>
<p>Well, Chicago got some production from its depth on Wednesday, and the team extended its season at least one more game.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759962/michal-handzus-game-5-overtime-goalAdam Gretz2014-05-28T21:47:36-04:002014-05-28T21:47:36-04:00You need to stop shots like that, Corey
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X5mhsSERA_ZB8btAAft8gunD_cA=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33628399/494198763.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When you sign a goalie for $36 million over six years, you expect him to stop shots such as this one.</p> <p>The Western Conference Final has been a nightmare for <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Blackhawks</a> goalie <span>Corey Crawford</span>.</p>
<p>Entering Game 5 on Wednesday night, Crawford had surrendered 14 goals over the first four games of the series on just 108 shots. It <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/26/5753374/corey-crawford-blackhawks-game-4-analysis">hasn't always been his fault</a>, but he also hasn't helped himself or his team.</p>
<p>The problems continued on Wednesday when he surrendered four goals on the first 24 shots he faced against the Kings, and it was the fourth goal, a shot off the stick of <span>Tanner Pearson</span>, that really hurt.</p>
<p>Not only because it gave the <a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kings</a> a 4-3 lead and erased what had been a 3-1 Chicago lead, but also because it's a shot you expect your $36 million goalie to stop every time.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4524529/perason.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Perason_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4524529/perason.gif"></a> <br id="1401328046930"></p>
<p>That was Pearson's fourth goal of the playoffs and second in as many games.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759806/corey-crawford-tanner-pearson-goalAdam Gretz2014-05-28T20:57:26-04:002014-05-28T20:57:26-04:00Fetch the stick, Dustin
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9ST1fdP5-o3SMrHYObMcI5qU0h4=/0x124:4000x2791/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33626959/20140511_tcb_aw6_396.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Niklas Hjalmarsson was fed up with Dustin Brown, so he threw his stick down the ice. That's a penalty. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl-playoffs" class="sbn-auto-link">NHL playoffs</a> have given us some strange hockey the past two nights.</p>
<p>After the <a href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Canadiens</a> and <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a> played a thrilling -- and at times, bizarre -- game on Tuesday, the <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blackhawks</a> and <a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kings</a> decided to continue the back-and-forth hockey in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The two teams combined for five goals in the first period as the Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. The Kings had a chance to make that lead completely disappear late in the period when they were given a power play opportunity after what can only be described as an ill-advised penalty by <span>Niklas Hjalmarsson</span>.</p>
<p>Following a hit from Kings forward <span>Dustin Brown</span> along the boards, Hjalmarsson decided his best course of action would be to take Brown's stick out of his hand and chuck it down the ice.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4524409/fetchthestick.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Fetchthestick_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4524409/fetchthestick.gif"></a></p>
<p>That game of fetch ended up costing Hjalmarsson two minutes in the penalty box for "holding the stick." But at least it was funny.</p>
<p>The Kings failed to score on the ensuing power play.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5759686/niklas-hjalmarsson-dustin-brown-stick-throwAdam Gretz2014-05-28T13:52:19-04:002014-05-28T13:52:19-04:00Anze Kopitar is amazing
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vhz2J-0y8y9R8WrtPTLJrqwnN_g=/0x566:2801x2433/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33595953/20140516_jla_usa_305.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Forget about Sidney Crosby vs. Jonathan Toews. What we should be arguing is Anze Kopitar vs. Jonathan Toews. </p> <p>
<style><!--
.m-sbnation-2014-nhl-playoff-coverage {
display: block;
width: 100%;
}
.m-sbnation-2014-nhl-playoff-coverage img {
max-width: 100%;
}
--></style>
</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/a/nhl-playoffs-2014" class="m-sbnation-2014-nhl-playoff-coverage"> <img alt="SB Nation 2014 NHL Playoff Bracket" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/features/2014-nhl-playoff-bracket/nhl-banner-snippet.jpg"> </a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Kings</a> forward <span>Anze Kopitar</span> needs a better PR department.</p>
<p>While many have spent the playoffs debating whether or not Chicago's <span>Jonathan Toews</span> has passed <span>Sidney Crosby</span> as<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=jonathan+toews+best+player&oq=jonathan+toews+best+player&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60j0l4.2423j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8"> the best player in the league</a> (he still hasn't, by the way), there is a more realistic debate that's being ignored: Has Kopitar passed Toews as the <i>second</i> best player in the league?</p>
<p>The only notable person around hockey that I've ever seen make such a statement has been his own coach, Darryl Sutter, <a href="http://lakingsinsider.com/2014/03/27/march-27-morning-skate-quotes-darryl-sutter/">when he threw this line into an answer back in March before a game against Pittsburgh</a>.</p>
<p>"You might argue that the best player, other than Kopitar, in the league, is Crosby."</p>
<p>And you know what? Even if he was just trying to pump up his own player or giving the type of answer that Darryl Sutter usually gives at news conferences, he may not have been wrong when he said it. Kopitar just might be the second best player in hockey right now, and it's long past time we started paying attention to it.</p>
<h4>Better than Toews?</h4>
<p><link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3706325/bloglinks.css"></p>
<div class="blog-links-compact-container">
<h4>
<span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span> More from our team sites <span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span>
</h4>
<div class="blog-links-compact-link-container"><a href="http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=bloglinks&utm_campaign=blogs">Los Angeles Kings blog Jewels From The Crown</a></div>
</div>
<p>Just consider the success Kopitar has had over the past few years and it's stunning that he doesn't get more consideration in these best player arguments or have a higher reputation among the NHL's elite players. That's especially true when he's pretty much a carbon copy of more heralded players like Toews or Boston's Patrice Bergeron, who always seem to come out ahead of him when the best players in the league are discussed or voted on.</p>
<p>He's probably better than both of them. He just doesn't have the Canadian media machine promoting him, and instead of having an original six logo covering his chest, he plays his games on the west coast.</p>
<h4>Scoring, defense, puck possession: Kopi has it all</h4>
<p>Pretty much everything you could want from a top player, Kopitar has. Individual skills and production. Team success. Being just as good away from the puck as he is with the puck.</p>
<p>But whether you're looking at his contributions on a stat sheet or are giving him the eye test, it should be pretty clear that you're watching a pretty special player that is still in the prime of his career.</p>
<p>He is an incredibly skilled offensive player who is usually good for between 70 and 80 points while being asked to play against the other team's best players, and is also one of the very best defensive players in hockey that can be trusted in every situation.</p>
<p>Since the start of the 2011-12 season with Kopitar on the ice at even-strength, the Kings have attempted 60 percent of the shot attempts (the third best mark in the NHL, behind only Kopitar's teammate <span>Justin Williams</span> and Bergeron) and scored more than 61 percent of the goals. He's also averaged more than two minutes of shorthanded ice-time per game over that stretch (tops among Kings forwards) and has 53 power play points.</p>
<h4>A proven winner</h4>
<p>The past three years of Kopitar's career, both in the NHL and briefly on the International stage (almost single handedly leading Slovenia, in its first ever Olympic hockey competition, to the second round of the tournament that included a dominating win over Slovakia), have been as impressive as any other player in the world.</p>
<p>His team is in the conference finals for the third straight year (something that only one other team, the 2006-09 <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Red Wings</a>, has accomplished in the salary cap era) and is one win away from playing in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/stanley-cup-final" class="sbn-auto-link">Stanley Cup Final</a> for the second time in three years (something only three teams in the salary cap era would be able to claim).</p>
<p>He already has his name on the Cup.</p>
<div class="floated-video">
<iframe src="https://www.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=46371" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="46371-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
<em>Steve Dangle explains why you should never give up on the Kings.</em>
</div>
<p>And with all apologies to <span>Jonathan Quick</span> and his incredible 2012 postseason run that won him the Conn Smythe Trophy, Kopitar was the best player on that team, leading the postseason in scoring and posting a dominant 56 percent Corsi percentage along the way.</p>
<p>He's once again the NHL's leading scorer in the playoffs (by a wide margin), and if he's able to maintain that lead he would become just the 10th player in the modern era to do so more than once, joining a list that includes Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito, Mario Lemieux, <span>David Krejci</span>, <span>Joe Sakic</span>, Guy Lafleur, Bryan Trottier, Rick Macleish and <span>Peter Forsberg</span>.</p>
<p>Quick got all of the headlines in 2012, because goalies usually do in the playoffs no matter what they do or how well they play, but it was Kopitar that was the one driving the Kings' team bus to the Cup.</p>
<p>He's doing it again this season, and he's probably the biggest reason Los Angeles is on the brink of another Western Conference title.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/5/28/5757498/stanley-cup-playoffs-2014-anze-kopitar-analysis-kingsAdam Gretz