The Los Angeles Kings return home to open a four-game homestand Saturday night at Staples Center against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Kings are back in Los Angeles after going 1-0-1 on a brief two-game road trip that saw them beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2, then lose 3-2 in overtime to the Dallas Stars.
The Kings held a 2-0 lead in the third period on Wedensday night in Dallas, only to give up the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation, then fall in overtime. "It's frustrating," Anze Kopitar told Brian Hunter of NHL.com. "You got a two-goal lead going into the third period and you couldn't close it out. They kept coming. You got to give them credit, they made some plays, but on our part, we just can't sit back like that. We got to play our style and keep the foot on the gas pedal and not back out."
Kings center Mike Richards has been on a scoring spree of late, and is now tied with Kopitar for the team lead in goals with 10. Richards has scored at least one goal in each of his last five games and in seven of his last eight contests.
The Kings have not fared well in recent meetings against the Blackhawks. They lost all four matchups last season to Chicago, and have lost six straight to the Blackhawks dating back to 2009. In fact, the Kings are 0-9-1 in their last 10 games against Chicago.
Saturday night's 7:30 p.m. game will be televised by Fox Sports West as well as WGN. For more Kings hockey news and analysis, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.