Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - It took an extra three months, but the Los
Angeles Kings finally got to have their Stanley Cup celebration. It all went
downhill from there.
Marian Hossa scored twice and added an assist to lead the Chicago Blackhawks
in a 5-2 win over the Kings in the season opener on Saturday.
Last June saw the Kings win the first Cup in franchise history as the team
defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games, capping a 16-4 postseason run
that saw the team become the first eighth seed to take home the coveted
chalice.
In a pre-game ceremony, Los Angeles raised its championship banner in the
rafters of the Staples Center, but Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick gave up
three goals in the first period en route to the season-opening loss.
Quick posted a 1.41 goals against average and .946 save percentage in last
year's playoff run, but he allowed five goals on 22 shots while Rob Scuderi
and Jordan Nolan scored in the loss.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane each posted a goal and an assist for the
Blackhawks, who got 19 saves from Corey Crawford in the win.
Chicago made the playoffs last season as the sixth seed, but was dispatched by
the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round after six games.
The Sports Network