The NHL playoffs have witnessed two teams get 3-1 leads in the conference finals. The New York Rangers, after going up 3-1 over the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals, lost Game 5 on the road in Montreal and gave up seven goals in one of Henrik Lundqvist’s worst performances as a professional. In Game 6 in New York, though, Lundqvist bounced back with a magnificent performance, as did his teammates. New York beat Montreal, 1-0, to finish off that series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final. There will therefore be no hockey on Saturday this weekend. There will only be one game this weekend: Game 7 on Sunday night between the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings in the Windy City.
Game 7: Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks
Sunday, 8:05 PM ET
Odds: Blackhawks -145
The Kings tried to finish this series at home in Game 6 on Friday but couldn’t. That means that we’re on to Game 7 back in Chicago where the Blackhawks are favored to win. It’s rare that teams trailing 3-1 make full comebacks to win series in seven games but Chicago has practice in this rare art. Last year, the Blackhawks trailed the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, and won three straight games to get out of the second round and into the Western Conference Finals against the very same Los Angeles Kings. Most people who are following this series would say that if this series does get back to Chicago, Los Angeles is in trouble. This is not said because the Kings should be doubted. The Kings have already won six elimination games in these playoffs alone and if this Game 7 does happen, this would be a seventh elimination game. The Kings are also 3-0 in road elimination games in these playoffs. Los Angeles should not be taken lightly in this situation if it happens.
This pick of Chicago would not be a statement of doubt relative to the Kings. It would be an expression of confidence in the Blackhawks. Chicago is the defending Stanley Cup champion. The Blackhawks have established a reputation as a team that’s really hard to knock out of the NHL playoffs. It’s a reputation that’s just as strong as the one held by Los Angeles, or at the very least, it’s a reputation that would rise to the Kings’ level if Chicago wins a road elimination game in the Staples Center on Friday night in Game 6. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are two of the best players in the world, and with both of them on the ice at home, the Kings would be hard pressed to rise up and beat them. Chicago started this series as the better team, outplaying the Kings in the first five periods until Los Angeles came alive in the third period of Game 2. If the Blackhawks return to Chicago for a Game 7 and not to clean their lockers, they’re going to win.
Pick: Blackhawks
