Blackhawks vs Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Patrick Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy last spring. He's making a big push to do it again.

Kane had two goals and an assist Friday night to help the Chicago Blackhawks avoid elimination and force a Game 7 in the Western Conference Final with a 4-3 victory against the Los Angeles Kings. He has seven points in the past two games as the Blackhawks have come back from a 3-1 deficit to level this series with the Kings.

The Blackhawks have become incredible closers, taking control of series as they progress. Chicago has won 25 of 29 games after Game 4 in a series with Kane and Jonathan Toews on the roster, including 13 in a row in 2013 and 2014.

Chicago is 12-2 in Games 6 or 7 in their careers. Kane has nine goals and 17 points in those games, including his famous Stanley Cup-winning overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2010 Final.

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez sat a few lockers down from Drew Doughty and stated what was difficult to argue.

"Drew, as far as I'm concerned, is the best defenseman in the world," Martinez said.

That was quite a proclamation considering the way the Kings and Chicago Blackhawks exchanged blows in a 4-3 Chicago win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Friday at Staples Center. But what was left in the remnants of a Kings loss was another remarkable display by Doughty in his finest Stanley Cup Playoffs yet.

CHICAGO -- Brandon Saad is developing into an elite two-way forward for the Chicago Blackhawks, and the game he helped win Wednesday at United Center might someday be looked upon as the night he made the jump from good to great.

Saad was one of the most dominant players on the ice for the Blackhawks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings, a game they had to win to avoid elimination. He scored in the first period and assisted on Chicago's last two goals in a 5-4 double-overtime win. His second assist was a beautiful feed to Michal Handzus for the game-winner.

But Saad was just as good in areas of the game that aren't as easily noticed.