Game 47: Kings 5, Blackhawks 2

It's been how long? Ages. And lookie here... the Kings puck up where they left off, winning their third games in a row. And against a team that they match up well with, at least age-wise. We have two goaltenders above .500?

The game wasn't on TV, thanks to UCLA and USC, so I had to seek refuge online. And after finding a suitable feed, aI settled back and watched in amazement as the Kings took advantage of a tired Blackhawk squad, to reach .500 yet again.

The Kings outhit the Hawks 37-31, and were MONSTERS in the faceoff circle. Propers to Jarret Stoll: 15-for-17 in the faceoff circle. Michel Handzus quietly won 13 out of 20 faceoffs as well. Dustin Brown finished the game with 2 goals, one assist and the first star of the game.

Jonny Quick brought his A-game and held the Hawks' potent offense in check in the first two periods, turning away all 25 shots he faced. And much of the credit goes to the defense in front of him.

Oh yeah, the D... look who's alongside rookie phenom Drew Doughty at the top of the ice time: Jack Mother Lovin' Johnson and Matt Greene. These three guys are the cornerstone of what should hopefully become a solid blueline that will shut down opposing teams for seasons to come. Sure, scoring is down this season for the Kings, they're learning a new system. The scoring will come, as it did tonight, the more guys buy into coach Murray's system and realize it works. Tonight was just a solid effort from the well-rested Kings, who now go on the road for a five-game roadie, starting on Saturday as the team travels to Montreal to take on Les Habitants. But guess what? No TV for Saturday's game either. Boo.

• AP: Kings beat Blackhawks 5-2 behind Quick

• LA Times: Victory shows Kings may be on to something

Maddening because if the Kings are capable of scoring 16 goals in three games -- their most productive three-game stretch this season -- while playing decent defense and getting key saves from goaltender Jonathan Quick, it shouldn't have taken them so long to put all these elements together.

• Yahoo: Team report

The Kings have now scored a total of 16 goals in their last three games. Before that, the Kings had scored a total of 15 goals in their previous 10 games. The 16 goals are by far the most goals the Kings have scored in any three-game period this season. Previously, they combined for 13 goals in a three-game span from Oct. 14-20.

• LAKings.com: Notes from the press box

They said it

“Every game we play has to be approached as though it’s a playoff-type game. When you have that type of a desperation, you (have to) figure it out and you just go and play the right way, and play with structure and play incredibly hard.”—Kings coach Terry Murray.

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• The Royal Half: All this time...

Well, what does a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks tell us? Blackhawk blogs will tell you it was just because the team was tired. Sure, they played the Ducks the night before but as Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy said tonight, the Blackhawks did their job... a win in Anaheim and a loss in LA. Who cares what they do in San Jose? (Well, it would be nice if they lose.)

• LetsGoKings: Usher Update Kings vs. Blackhawks

We all enjoyed ourselves and we're happy the Kings won tonight. But there are things happening in all of our lives that just cannot be ignored. Jobs are being lost, loved ones, friendships, relationships, you name it. The cool thing though about it is that..I watched tonight as in between periods fans, LGK and non-LGK alike, encouraged and showed compassion towards each other.

From the other side of the ice, the Chicago view

• Chicago Tribune: Hawks fall behind early, fail to sustain momentum

"They're playing well, give them credit," coach Joel Quenneville. "They worked hard tonight. We made a couple of mistakes. I liked the way we competed in the last part of the game but we had a pretty big hole."

• Sun-Times: Crowned again

The Hawks have been ineffective against the worst teams in the Western Conference. The Kings, ranked 13th, have won both meetings with the Hawks. The Kings are 6-0-3 in their last nine meetings with the Hawks at the Staples Center.

• GhostofEdLitzenberger: Kings 17, Blackhawks 0

I have the utmost admiration for the Los Angeles Kings and their tough young defenseman.
But this shit is happening every year (pardon my french).

• BlackhawkBuzz: Kings continue to own Hawks

• Second City Hockey: Blog

• Hockee Night: Blog

Kings-related news

LetsGoKings: Wayne Simmonds – A Man Who Had An NHL Mission

 "I think ever since I first started playing hockey when I was 7. I remember telling my mom, "I am going to play in the NHL." I don't know if she really believed it but it has worked all along. I came into the training camp this year and just put my best - my best foot forward and it worked out."

• Press-Enterprise: Alexander: No doubts about Doughty

What if they'd actually won the first pick in the lottery? With all of the hype surrounding forward Steve Stamkos, the presumed No. 1 pick, would they have taken him instead of defenseman Drew Doughty? And if so, what might they have missed?

• Examiner.com:  Kings stingy defense key to playoff push

Peeping the dailies