Is Jonathan Quick to Blame for Los Angeles Kings’ Game 5 Loss?

Twenty minutes—That's all that stood between the Los Angeles Kings and their second trip to the Stanley Cup Final in three seasons.

After spotting the Chicago Blackhawks a two-goal lead early in the first period, Los Angeles clawed back into the contest and held a 4-3 advantage heading into the third and final frame.

That should have been enough for a Kings team that was 8-0 in these playoffs when leading after 40 minutes of action. That should have been enough against a Blackhawks team that hadn't won in these playoffs when trailing after 40.



It wasn't enough though, and that blame falls squarely on Jonathan Quick's shoulders. The 2012 Conn Smythe winner came up with a handful of dazzling saves as the Kings were gunning for a come-from-behind win through the first two periods, but he failed to make the stops when they mattered most.



Ben Smith's goal 77 seconds into the third period breathed life, hope and belief into the 'Hawks, and it's a goal that Quick should have never allowed to happen. When you have a team like the Blackhawks on the ropes, rebounds can't be kicked out directly to streaking forwards when the initial shot itself didn't have much velocity.

Some will contend that Smith's tally wasn't on Quick at all. Instead, it was a case of Jarret Stoll losing a race to a loose puck. That's fair, but the puck should have never been loose in the first place. It'd be easy to forgive the Olympian netminder for one stinker, but he was fighting the puck all night and gave up a few softies that prevented the Kings from advancing.

The Smith goal was similar to Johnny Oduya's strike in the first period in that it came off of a play that didn't initially appear dangerous.



Patrick Kane has a rocket and shouldn't have been allowed too much time and space in the offensive zone, but Quick shouldn't have popped the rebound out into traffic either. ...

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