The Blackhawks have not yet been officially eliminated from the playoffs, but a 3-2 overtime loss to the Kings on Saturday night certainly didn’t help.
Chicago fell back into old patterns, scoring just two goals in this game. Corey Crawford stayed hot for much of the game, allowing just one goal on the first 25 shots, but the Kings got two goals on their final four shots.
The Blackhawks grabbed a point and now trail the Avalanche by six points for the second wild card in the Western Conference with only four games remaining.
With the Kings and Blackhawks failing to score in the first period, Alex DeBrincat again opened scoring for Chicago, this time just 98 seconds into the second period. It was his 41st goal of the season, tying Patrick Kane for the team lead, and was his 69th goal in his NHL career (nice).
We’ll take it!#Purr pic.twitter.com/teVJeNa29Z
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 31, 2019
The Kings got a goal back 15 minutes later as Austin Wagner breezed past Carl Dahlstrom, who seemed stuck in molasses.
Austin Wagner flies past a pylon (Dahlstrom) and goes upstairs on Crawford.
What a goal. pic.twitter.com/JqRMw1Segl
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 31, 2019
Erik Gustafsson gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead just 3 minutes into the third on a slap shot after a faceoff win by Marcus Kruger.
Erik Gustafsson’s BOMB puts the Blackhawks up 2-1 … he has 17 (!) goals this season. pic.twitter.com/KQUsj5pfU9
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 31, 2019
Michael Amadio tied it 2-2 when he was left alone in front and sent a wrist shot past Crawford with 4:15 remaining. That propelled the Kings into the overtime, where, after Jonathan Toews took a holding penalty, Drew Doughty scored with 12 seconds left on the 4-on-3 power play.
Up next
Chicago returns home to take on the Jets on Sunday night, the first of a three-game home stand.
3 Stars
- Drew Doughty (LAK) — Game-winning goal
- Austin Wagner (LAK) — 1 goal
- Alex DeBrincat (CHI) — 1 goal