The Los Angeles Kings were the better team for much of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It just took a few periods for the goals to start going in for them. After trailing 2-0, Los Angeles scored a pair of big goals in the third period and forced what can only be described as “the reason why 3-on-3 overtime exists.”
The two Western Conference powers gave hockey fans a small taste of what it was like when they met in the playoffs back in 2014 when the Kings won the Western Conference finals in seven games. One of the finest playoff series in recent years wasn’t going to be topped by a regular-season game, but that didn’t make Saturday night’s matchup any less fun.
The overtime period only lasted 2:04, but it was two straight minutes of pure adrenaline with only one stoppage in play. Both teams had chance after chance as it looked more like a tennis match than a hockey game, but this is exactly what the NHL wants to see when their games go to extra time with this new format.
Here’s the entire overtime, which includes a pretty spectacular Jonathan Quick save on a rebound shot that he had to tip away with his goalie paddle and the eventual winner scored by Marian Gaborik on a breakaway. It fits neatly into a video of just 3:35 of real time including replays.
I know playoff matchups between the same teams can be stale, but would anyone complain if the Blackhawks and Kings met up in the postseason once again? They’ll only play one more time during the regular season and that doesn’t seem to be enough if this is the kind of performance we get.
These two teams will next meet on March 14, by the way, so set your reminders, alarms and whatever else you need to do to make sure you’re in front of your TV for that game.
Marian Gaborik celebrates his OT winner against the Blackhawks. (USATSI)
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