Blackhawks vs. Kings: Has Chicago Finally Regained Its Mojo?

Crisis averted.

Mojo regained?

The Blackhawks woke up just in time to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in seven games after dropping three of the first four games in the series. It certainly looks like they have found their magic touch once again.

However, beating an overachieving Red Wings team and taking down the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings are two different matters.

The Blackhawks are going to to have to be at their best to defeat an opportunistic team like the Kings. Los Angeles features a sensational goalie in Jonathan Quick who is at the top of his game. Quick leads all playoff goalies with a 1.50 goals against average, a .948 save percentage and three shutouts.

The Kings also are also a team that can punish opponents with physical play and score clutch goals. Justin Williams scored the Kings' only two goals in their Game 7 victory over the San Jose Sharks, which allowed them to survive that series.

If the Blackhawks are going to overcome the Kings' physical play, goalie and ability to score dirty goals, here's what has to happen:

1. Jonathan Toews must regain his touch. Toews is the Blackhawks captain and best all-around player. Through the first 12 games of the playoffs, he has one goal and five assists, placing him in a tie for fifth on his own team with three other players.

Toews had 23 goals and 25 assists during the regular season, so his production level in the playoffs has been well below what head coach Joel Quenneville has a right to expect. Both the Minnesota Wild (in the first round) and the Red Wings came after Toews with physical play, but that's to be expected in the playoffs. Toews must find a way to overcome the attention he is receiving.

This is not a question about effort. Toews is an excellent defensive player and has won 56.0 percent of his faceoffs, but he must upgrade his offensive production.

2. Patrick Kane must use his quick-strike ability. Kane has been a tad more productive than Toews in the playoffs, with nine points (two goals and seven assists). But he has not been playing at the high level he displayed through the majority of the regular season.

Kane had 23 goals and 32 assists during the regular season, and he was dangerous on the power play with eight strikes. He has yet to find the back of the net in the postseason when the Blackhawks have the man advantage.

Kane played with a sense of fearlessness during the regular season that has not been as apparent in the playoffs.

3. Crash the net. The Sharks tried to put as many bodies as they could in front of Quick. This is an absolute must for the Blackhawks. Quick is simply too good, and he will stop anything he can see.

According to Chicago's Viktor Stalberg, Quick can take away what looks like sure goals. Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times had the following tweet: "Viktor Stalberg on Jonathan Quick: "Sometimes guys think they have an empty net but somehow he finds a way back there." #Blackhawks #LAKings"

That means Chicago must screen him and jam the goal to distract him. The Blackhawks did this regularly to opposing goalies during their 24-game streak without a regulation loss at the start of the season.

Even though the Blackhawks have many skilled shooters—Toews, Kane, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa as well as defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook—they are most effective when they get bodies in front of the net.

This means players like Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw, Bryan Bickell, Michal Handzus and Michael Frolik must do the hard work in front of the net whenever they can.

4. Stop the Kings defensemen from joining the attack. Most of the attention will be on Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. However, the Kings get a lot of offense from the back end. When defensemen Slava Voynov, Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin move into the offensive zone, they often get prime scoring opportunities, according to Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News.

The Blackhawks forwards must be cognizant of the Kings' ability to strike suddenly and make big plays by having the defensemen join the attack. Voynov is tied for the league lead in goals by a defenseman with four this postseason.

5. Corey Crawford must be up to the challenge. Quick's credentials are stellar, and he is unquestionably the best goalie left in the playoffs. However, Crawford has had an excellent postseason and must continue to perform at a high level.

Crawford has a 1.70 GAA (second to Quick), and he also has a .938 save percentage and a shutout to his credit. He showed his ability to bounce back after he let in a soft goal in from Detroit's Joakim Andersson in Game 6 and then withstood a serious Detroit offensive thrust, refusing to allow any more goals until the Blackhawks moved ahead by two.

Crawford was also excellent in Game 7, as he stopped 26-of-27 shots by the Red Wings.

“(The Wings) put a lot of pucks at the net, dangerous shots at the net, second opportunities. Crow was great tonight,” coach Joel Quenneville told CSNChicago.com's Tracey Myers. “You have to commend him on his composure and how he persevered over the last three games. Winning the series was big for him and for us; great job by him.”

Crawford must continue to play his game. If he gets drawn into a goaltender duel with Quick, the pressure will increase that much more and make it more difficult to perform.

The Blackhawks responded to pressure by beating the Red Wings. However, they won't know if they are back in top form until they prove they can handle the defending Stanley Cup champions.