NHL West Update

The NHL Western Conference playoffs are shaping up much like last year. It is now likely it will be a Western Conference finals rematch with the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks facing the Los Angeles Kings.

The “NBC darling” Blackhawks have won six straight playoff games since giving away late leads and losing each of the first two opening round games vs the St. Louis Blues. They lead their current series two games to none vs the Minnesota Wild.

Chicago is now (16-2) at home in the playoffs over the last two seasons.

The Kings won the opening game of their quarter final series at Anaheim vs the Ducks due to the heroics of Marian Gaborik. He scored with seven seconds left in regulation time to force overtime. Then in overtime, he scored again.

This is the first ever playoff series between the two Southern California NHL teams, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Marian Gaborik