Colin Fraser News

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Slava Voynov celebrates his first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with teammates Kyle Clifford and Colin Fraser during Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference final playoff in Los Angeles, California, June 6, 2013.

The game-time decision to play the star center nearly paid off 100 percent. Nearly in that the Kings eventually lost 4-3 in a second overtime to the Blackhawks and were eliminated 4-1 in the best of seven series.

Chicago, IL, United States - Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter said center Mike Richards could play in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday at United Center.

Even with Duncan Keith suspended for Game 4, 8-1. The Hawks played a great team game to put themselves one win away from the Stanley Cup Final.

The Kings returned home after a tough two games in Chicago where they had a hard time generating any sustained pressure.

In Part One, comparing the Wings and Canucks history had reached the point where we were headed into a draft after two teams that could be labeled "high skill" had won the Cup, playing attractive, offensive hockey.

Justin Williams might have saved the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 with his two goals against the San Jose Sharks in the last round, but suddenly the savior was sounding like a sage on Monday.

That's what Kings coach Darryl Sutter needed to do because he said center Mike Richards was "fine" three hours before the puck dropped on Sunday's Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at United Center.

Goaltender Corey Crawford #50, Patrick Sharp #10 and Johnny Oduya #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game One of the Western Conference Final during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center on June 1, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.

For a good while in Game 1, the most attention Corey Crawford received was all the talking Corey Crawford was doing.

When looking back at the 2010 Stanley Cup championship run of the Chicago Blackhawks, one of the first realizations fans come to is just how loaded that team was at the center position.

Slava Voynov wore his Kings cap backwards and flashed a boyish grin that exposed a missing tooth on the bottom row.

After a rare day off for rest and contemplation, the Los Angeles Kings came back focused on what's missing from their run at a second straight Stanley Cup title.

Dustin Brown remembers the last time he lost the final game of the season, that he was dissatisfied and disappointed and then had to shake hands with players he had just tried to check into submission.

Colin Fraser #24 of the Los Angeles Kings battles for control of the puck with Scott Gomez #23 of the San Jose Sharks in the first period in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 21, 2013 in San Jose, California.

Jonathan Quick saved his best save for the final minute, sliding deftly across his crease and snagging Joe Pavelski's shot from point-blank range to the grateful gasps of the Los Angeles Kings' sellout crowd.

Kings left winger Kyle Clifford returned to the ice for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since suffering an injury in Game 5 of the first-round St.

For all that the San Jose Sharks accomplished with their overtime victory over Los Angeles in Game 3, they know it will mean very little if they don't back that win up with another at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings.

Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Clifford practiced for the second day in a row Monday and will be back in the lineup for Tuesday's Game 4 against the San Jose Sharks .