For the first time in this playoff run, the Los Angeles Kings have the lead. The team has spent their entire Western Conference run playing catchup and coming from behind to win series against the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose sharks. However now playing the returning champion Chicago Blackhawks, the Kings are sitting pretty with a 3-1 lead and a chance to wrap things up on Wednesday night.
The series shifts back to Chicago where the Blackhawks are hoping to keep their dreams of repeating alive with a little home court advantage. If they are going to do so, they need their stars to begin scoring and their faceoff and special teams to improve. If they can put it all together and get a win, there is still a chance.
The last time the series was in Chicago, the Kings scored five goals in the third period. It was like the Blackhawks were not even on the ice. That momentum carried back to the Staples Center where the Kings continued to dominate. They have killed Chicago's penalty unit for five goals in 10 chances while the Blackhawks have had just one power play goal in the last 11 chances. Much of that is due to the fact that the Kings have won 58 percent of their faceoffs.
The Blackhawks are hoping to take a page from the Kings playoff book and complete and unlikely comeback. Los Angeles came back from a 3-1 deficit against San Jose and a 3-2 deficit against Anaheim. They have proved it is possible and no team should be ruled out. The Blackhawks have done it before. Last season they came back from a 3-1 hole against the Red Wings. The lost the first three to Vancouver in 2011 before rallying back and forcing a Game 7.
Several of Chicago's players are coming off career-worst performances. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith failed to get anything going on Monday. If they can improve their defense on the penalty kill then the Blackhawks stand a chance. However, if they failed to be aggressive, the Kings could punch their ticket to the finals.