Playoffs - Sun, 02 Jun - Results

Los Angeles v Chicago 2-4 - Game 2 - The Chicago Blackhawks never thought it would be this easy, not against the defending Stanley Cup champions and their previously red-hot goalie. But it was Sunday night at United Center, where the Blackhawks chased Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick from the net midway through the second period en route to a relatively easy 4-2 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final. Chicago has won five in a row going back to Game 5 against the Detroit Red Wings in the conference semifinals. Game 3 is Tuesday at Staples Center (9 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS), where the Kings have won 14 in a low, including the past seven in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blackhawks got goals off clean shots from Andrew Shaw and Brent Seabrook in the first period to grab a 2-0 lead. Bryan Bickell scored on the power play and Michal Handzus beat Quick on a 2-on-1 in the second to make it 4-0, forcing Kings coach Darryl Sutter to replace the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner with Jonathan Bernier at the 9:20 mark of the second period. Handzus and Bickell scored their goals 2:09 apart. Rarely do four go in against Quick, who had gone 34 consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs without allowing more than three goals, and he did that four times over the 34-game span. The last time he had allowed four goals was April 25, 2011, when the San Jose Sharks needed overtime in Game 6 of the conference quarterfinals to eliminate the Kings. He hadn't been pulled from a playoff game since April 23, 2010, when he gave up four goals to the Vancouver Canucks but came back in to finish the game after Erik Ersberg allowed two more in a 7-2 loss in Game 5 of the conference quarterfinals. The Kings have been in this position before, down 0-2 going home against the St. Louis Blues in the conference quarterfinals. They won four in a row to win the series in six games. After skating in pregame warmups, Richards was unable to play in Game 2 because of an upper-body injury, likely a result of Chicago center Dave Bolland's hard hit on him with 1:52 to play in the third period of Game 1. Tyler Toffoli, who had a goal and an assist, played in place of Richards. Jeff Carter, who also scored a goal, had to move to center on the second line. The Blackhawks are playing at 100 percent and their depth, speed and skill is showing as a result. Their four goals Sunday came from their top three lines and their power play. Seabrook and Handzus scored off the rush and Shaw's goal came off a Kings' defensive zone turnover. For the second straight game, Chicago's speed helped to negate the Kings' forecheck, putting L.A. on its heels, especially in the second period. Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad each added two assists. Los Angeles had chances in the first period, when it managed 13 shots on Chicago goalie Corey Crawford (29 saves), but they all came after Shaw's goal 1:54 into the game gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. Seabrook beat Quick with a low, far side/blocker side shot from the right circle with 50.4 seconds left before the first intermission to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead. The Blackhawks blew it open in the second, when Bickell was credited with a power-play goal at the 7:11 mark after gaining inside position on Robyn Regehr and Drew Doughty. Handzus scored off a 2-on-1 rush at 9:20 to send Quick to the bench. Bickell got the goal on the power play, but Regehr was the one who actually shot the puck through Quick's five-hole. The rebound of Sharp's shot from the blue line caromed off Bickell's glove and the puck went down to the ice. Regehr chopped at it and sent it into the net. Quick struggled to find the puck Sunday. It was a rare sight, one the Blackhawks don't think they can bank on happening again. It may not be enough if the Blackhawks continue to keep throwing their game right down the Kings' throats when the series resumes at Staples Center on Tuesday.