LA Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Game 1 Preview, TV Info and Predictions

The Los Angeles Kings will meet the Chicago Blackhawks for a Game 1 matchup at the United Center, and it should be a great series. The Kings and Blackhawks last two Western Conference teams to win the Stanley Cup, and each team has a great roster full of great players.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith are some of the Blackhawks' best players.

They could play a vital role in the team's success this series, but the Kings have players who will attempt to neutralize them. Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty will have their hands full, but they should be able to rise to the challenge.

The Kings and Blackhawks are both riding high off Game 7 wins at home, but how will they fare against each other in Game 1?

Where Can I Watch The Game?

The Chicago Blackhawks tweeted this information about Game 1.

Time: Saturday June 1, 5:00 p.m. ET

Where: United Center, Chicago IL

TV: NBC Sports Network

Key Storylines for Game 1

The biggest storyline in this series is the fact that the Kings and Blackhawks are the last two Western Conference teams to win the Stanley Cup. The Kings are the defending champions, and the Blackhawks won the Cup way back in 2010. Whenever you pit two powerhouses against each other sparks are sure to fly, but this series will have a little extra "oomph" to it.

Another key storyline will be the coaching battle between Joel Quenneville and Darryl Sutter. Both are smart hockey coaches who have a ton of experience, and it will be fun to watch each coach try and outfox the other. 

Both were feisty and tough players during their careers, and you can expect them to coach that way throughout the series.

Key Matchup: (LAK) Mike Richards vs. (CHI) Jonathan Toews

The last time these players had a meaningful playoff matchup was during the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. Richards was the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, and his task was to shut down Toews.

Here is an NHL tweet from 2010 talking about the Stanley Cup Final and potential Conn Smythe candidates.

That didn't happen back then, and you can be sure that Richards will try and do his best Henrik Zetterberg impression during the upcoming series. Zetterberg did a masterful job neutralizing Toews, and it almost cost the Blackhawks the series.

Both Richards and Toews are smart two-way forwards, and this matchup should be one of the best in the Western Conference Final.

Goaltending Tale of The Tape

(LAK) Jonathan Quick	Vs.	(CHI) Corey Crawford
8-5-2	Record	8-4-1
1.50	GAA	1.70
.948	Save Percentage	.938

Both the Kings and Blackhawks have solid goaltending. Quick has been one of the NHL's top netminders this postseason, and he currently is tied for first in wins and is first in GAA, save percentage and shutouts. 

Crawford has played well for the Blackhawks, and is second or third in every other goaltending category behind Quick. He came through in the clutch at the end of the Blackhawks' series against the Red Wings, and he should feel good heading into Game 1.

Blackhawks' Projected Lineup

Brandon Saad | Jonathan Toews  | Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp  | Michal Handzus | Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell | Andrew Shaw | Viktor Stalberg
Dan Carcillo | Marcus Kruger | Michael Frolík

Duncan Keith  | Niklas Hjalmarsson
Johnny Oduya | Brent Seabrook
Nick Leddy | Michal Rozsíval

Corey Crawford
Ray Emery

Kings' Projected Lineup

Dustin Brown  | Anze Kopitar  | Justin Williams
Dwight King | Mike Richards | Jeff Carter
Dustin Penner | Jarret Stoll | Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford | Colin Fraser | Tyler Toffoli

Robyn Regehr | Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin | Slava Voynov
Alec Martinez | Rob Scuderi

Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier

Blackhawks Will Win If...

Jonathan Quick has been virtually unbeatable lately. He is in the zone, and the Blackhawks will win if they pepper him with shots and can capitalize on the power play. The Blackhawks have played well at home, and they were rejuvenated after winning a series in which they trailed 3-1.

If the Blackhawks take a ton of shots and make Quick sweat, they will find a crack in his armor and set the tone.

Kings Will Win If...

The Kings need their top stars to get off to a great start, but they can win if they get physical. If the Kings can get their physical game going against the Blackhawks, they will have a chance to wear down their stars. This is a series suited for players like Brown, Justin Williams and Dustin Penner, and they should thrive.

Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown need to step up, and that would really helps the Kings' chances, but they should be able to win Game 1 if they play an effective two-way game.

Prediction: Los Angeles Kings 2, Chicago Blackhawks 1, OT

Right now Jonathan Quick is in the zone, and he has the eye of the tiger. Quick has returned to playoff form, and right now he and the Kings are the team to beat. If the Blackhawks' top guns come out firing in Game 1 that could change, but the Kings are the hottest team in the NHL right now.

This game should be very close, but Quick should give the Kings the edge in overtime.