The Los Angeles Kings continued their dominance at Staples Center Tuesday night, knocking off the Chicago Blackhawks and saving themselves from a three-game hole in the NHL Western Conference Finals. Tonight, at 9:00 p.m. in Staples Center once again, the Kings will look to stay undefeated at home and knot the series at two games each. Live stream the action here, or listen to the Kings radio broadcast at KHTS 1220, or the Blackhawks radio broadcast on WGN 720.
Niklas Hjalmarsson of the Blackhawks said that his team seemed unprepared for the Kings' home effort. "They came out flying. We know they're a tough team. Especially here in this building, they're a really tough team to beat. We've got to step it up and find a way to get back to the way we were playing in Chicago to have a chance to win the next game, because the last game wasn't good enough, not even close."
The Blackhawks will be without their top defenseman, Duncan Keith, for Game 4 tonight after he was suspended one game for high-sticking Kings center Jeff Carter in the mouth. Carter suffered a wound that required 20 stitches and cracked three teeth.
Keith, who spoke at a hearing with NHL officials before his suspension was handed down, has maintained that he did not intend to hurt Carter as badly as he did. "I said my piece," Keith said before the suspension. Said the same thing last night, that it was an accident, and I didn't mean to get him where I got him."
Hjalmarsson, another Blackhawks defenseman, said Chicago will rely on its depth to overcome the loss of Keith. "It's been our strength pretty much all season, our depth on our blue line. So whatever happens with that, I think we're going to be all right. I'm sure if something happens, [Sheldon] Brookbank is going to come in and play good. All of the D-men have to step up a little more if that happens."
Carter declined Keith's on-ice attempt to apologize, and afterward didn't seem eager to discuss the incident. "There's bigger things to worry about right now," Carter said, shrugging off his broken teeth with a hockey player's nonchalance. "We're in a fight here, down two games to one. I don't think that's on our minds."
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