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Posted On Wednesday, 05.28.2014 / 8:19 PM

By Shawn Roarke -  Director, Editorial /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Blackhawks make changes to D pairs for Game 5

CHICAGO -- Desperate times have brought about desperate measures for the Chicago Blackhawks, who completely re-imagined their defense pairs for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.

Trailing the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 in the best-of-7 series and facing a must-win in Game 5 at United Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS), the Blackhawks broke up the top pair of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook in attempt to reverse a three-game losing streak in which they have allowed 15 goals.

Second-pair defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was promoted to play with Keith, and Seabrook was paired with Nick Leddy, who usually plays on Chicago's third defense pair. The Blackhawks' third pair for Game 5 was Johnny Oduya and Michal Rozsival.

Posted On Wednesday, 05.28.2014 / 2:28 PM

By Brian Hedger -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Blackhawks juggle lines, reunite Hossa, Toews

CHICAGO -- Once again, Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is juggling his forward lines to see if he can spark something against the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final.

The Kings lead 3-1 in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 5 on Wednesday at United Center (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

During the morning skate Quenneville had right wing Marian Hossa back up with center Jonathan Toews and left wing Bryan Bickell on the top line, and right wing Patrick Kane with left wing Brandon Saad and center Andrew Shaw on the second line.

Posted On Wednesday, 05.28.2014 / 2:22 PM

By Corey Masisak -  NHL.com Staff Writer /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Kings have as much pressure on them as Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- A couple members of the Chicago Blackhawks told the media Wednesday that the pressure is on the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS) to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions and not let them back in the series.

It's a typical rallying cry for a team behind in a series, a way for players to force themselves to be less nervous or less focused on the potential end of their season being near. The Blackhawks are down 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, so playing up the "don't let us back in this" angle probably is a good strategy in a typical situation.

This situation might not be typical, though. The Blackhawks are used to being the team in a series with the championship "mojo" and experience and all of that unquantifiable stuff players tend to lean on at this time of year.

The Kings are just like the Blackhawks, having been to three straight conference finals and having won the Stanley Cup in 2012.

"Both teams are probably used to pressure," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "That's how you get to the 100-game mark, or close to the 100-game mark. It's what your players want and what they thrive on. Obviously I don't think there is more on one team or the other."

Posted On Wednesday, 05.28.2014 / 2:16 PM

By Brian Hedger -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Faceoffs remain cause of concern for Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to climb back into this Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings, they have to start winning more faceoffs.

The Kings lead the best-of-7 series 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Wednesday at United Center (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS) and their advantage at the faceoff dots has helped them stifle the vaunted puck-possession game of the defending Stanley Cup champions, particularly on special teams.

"They've beat us in almost every game this series other than Game 1, [when] it was 50-50," said Blackhawks forward Ben Smith, who's won eight of 15 draws (53.3 percent) for one of Chicago's better percentages. "So definitely [our] centers have to work harder, the wingers have to help them out and find ways to get pucks because we want puck possession. That'll give us a little bit of an edge [in Game 5] if we can do that."

Posted On Tuesday, 05.27.2014 / 7:44 PM

By Brian Hedger -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Blackhawks' Seabrook: 'I've got to be better'

CHICAGO -- Brent Seabrook didn't hide from the spotlight Tuesday afternoon at O'Hare International Airport, following the Chicago Blackhawks' return from an ugly trip to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Final.

A 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday dropped the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks into a 3-1 hole in the best-of-7 series. Seabrook, a defenseman who was on the ice for the Kings' two power-play goals in the first period, owned up to his share of responsibility.

After leading the NHL in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in penalty killing prior to this series, the Blackhawks have killed five of 10 Kings power plays heading into Game 5 on Wednesday at United Center (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

Posted On Monday, 05.26.2014 / 9:07 PM

By Shawn Roarke -  Director, Editorial /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Regin inserted into Blackhawks lineup for Game 4

LOS ANGELES -- The Chicago Blackhawks changed the makeup of their fourth line for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Monday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TNT, RDS).

Center Peter Regin is in the lineup for Chicago, replacing Brandon Bollig.


Posted On Monday, 05.26.2014 / 2:41 PM

By Curtis Zupke -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Kings' Regehr skates, but has no timeline on return

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr reported some progress Monday from his knee injury but didn't have a timetable for his return.

Regehr came out late to skate on the morning of Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Monday at Staples Center (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN, RDS), the second straight day he has taken the ice. But he isn't doing drills and appears a ways off from being available.

"I can't put a timeline on it because it just depends if things keep going along well, then we can kind of gauge that," Regehr said. "But if, all of a sudden, there's a day or two, if something happens, I take a step backward, then that date will then change. I really don't know. I've been making steps forward this whole time, so far, I'm really hoping to avoid any sort of regression."

Posted On Monday, 05.26.2014 / 2:36 PM

By Curtis Zupke -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Kings have blanked Blackhawks' Kane, but stay wary

LOS ANGELES -- Darryl Sutter's press conferences are known for awkward silences and long pauses. The Los Angeles Kings coach isn't chatty on a lot of days, but he perked up Monday morning when asked about limiting Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane.

Kane has been held scoreless in the first three games of the Western Conference Final, which the Kings lead 2-1 going into Game 4 at Staples Center on Monday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN). Kane was a combined minus-4 in Games 2 and 3, but Sutter and the Kings don't need to be reminded that he is a sleeping bear they expect to wake.

"Kane's a scary guy," Sutter said. "We talk about it all the time. The more you play him, the more you know it's coming somewhere. We're very familiar with him and we're very respectful of what he brings to the team. You can say he's been kept off [the score sheet]. But we've done a good job against him. He's had some brilliant opportunities, and those guys like that, they only need those one or two, so we have to be even more aware of him."

Posted On Sunday, 05.25.2014 / 8:00 PM

By Shawn Roarke -  Director, Editorial /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Blackhawks could make lineup changes for Game 4

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Changes may well be coming to the Chicago Blackhawks' lineup for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is not shy about shaking things up after a loss. Well, Chicago has lost twice in a row now and has been badly outplayed in the final 20 minutes of each of those games. So, if recent history is to be our guide, it appears the lineup could have a new look for Game 4 on Monday at Staples Center (9 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS). Los Angeles leads the best-of-7 series 2-1.

Will it be new players in the lineup? Or will it just be a jumbling of the lines?


Posted On Sunday, 05.25.2014 / 7:46 PM

By Corey Masisak -  NHL.com Staff Writer /NHL.com - Blackhawks-Kings series blog

Carter thriving in the middle for Kings

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter has shifted back and forth from center to the wing a lot in his career.

At one point, he and current teammate Mike Richards were once two franchise centers for the Philadelphia Flyers, but since then he's played each position for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Los Angeles Kings and for Canada in international competitions.

Carter has played more on the wing for the Kings, but a shift to the middle along with being flanked by rookies Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson has helped Carter become the second-leading scorer in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, behind teammate Anze Kopitar.


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