Murray: Quick still focus in Hawks/Kings series
Q. How will the pulling of goalie Jonathan Quick midway through Game 2 affect the Kings?
A. I think it might be a wake-up call for them more than a blow to their mental state. Darryl Sutter sensed that things weren’t going well, and sometimes you make a decision that’s a wake-up call to your team. It’s like, “Hey, you’ve got to do more to help your goaltender.”
The Blackhawks had some real quality looks 1-on-1 against Quick in Game 2, and he wasn’t able to come up with the big saves that he normally makes. Maybe more than anything I think it’s a rallying point for the team to realize that they have to be better in front of him.
As good as he is, he can’t save the world.
Q. What does Quick’s early departure do for the Hawks?
A. It means that they’re creating opportunities.
For the Blackhawks, there’s going to be a real positive attitude there. They have a good feeling that they’ve been able to do something that most teams haven’t been able to do the last two years, and that’s get to Jonathan Quick.
Q. How have they been able to do that?
A. The Blackhawks are an explosive team, and if you make small mistakes against world-class players, those players can make it hurt, and that’s what they have been able to do.
I thought the Kings were playing a good game, but they made some mistakes and the Blackhawks’ skill was able to capitalize. There’s a sense of reality that you can’t make those mistakes against good teams.
They’ve scored on some of their chances; they’ve created opportunities on mental mistakes by the Kings and have been able to win these first two games because of it.
Q. OK, in Game 3 on Tuesday night do the Hawks just have to keep bringing more of the same or do they really have to push things early on?
A. They have to do more of the same, but I think you have to have a real good sense of reality. The L.A. Kings are going to regroup on home ice and take stock in what happened against St. Louis when they lost the first two games and then won the next four.
This is a very dangerous opponent. Game 3 is a critical moment of this series. If you’re the Kings, you say, “Hey, we’re just going to hold serve and see what happens after that. Hopefully we’re in a position where it’s 2-2 and it’s the best of three.”
For the Blackhawks, you have to continue doing what you did over the weekend: moving the puck and having a high-tempo pace. But expect that it’s going to be a much tougher opponent in Game 3, so you have to play at a higher level.
ŸTroy Murray is in his 13th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth year as the color analyst for the team’s radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer and a veteran of 15 years in the NHL, playing in 915 career games.