LOS ANGELES -- The Chicago Blackhawks waited in the dressing room while the Los Angeles Kings received their Stanley Cup championship rings and had a banner raised to the rafters of Staples Center.
The Hawks then took the ice and hit the Kings with everything they had to race to a 5-2 victory Saturday afternoon in the opening game of the 2013 season. Marian Hossa had two goals and an assist while Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews each added a goal and an assist. Michael Frolik also scored and Corey Crawford was solid in net as the Hawks spolied the Kings' celebration. Rob Scuderi and Jordan Nolan had goals for Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick suffered the loss in goal.
Kane started his and the Hawks’ season off in the right way when the winger cashed in on the power play. Holding a two-man advantage, the Hawks controlled the puck and Kane worked his way low where Hossa fed him and Kane blasted a one-timer past Quick. It was the first goal scored in the NHL this season.
Hossa made it 2-0 as he flipped a puck into the slot trying to hit a streaking Jonathan Toews and it found its way past Quick. It was soon a three-goal advantage after Marcus Kruger carried the puck into the Los Angeles zone and slid a pass to Frolik, who snapped a shot from the high slot past a startled Quick.
Early in the second, Kane put on a burst of speed after scooping up a loose puck and raced in on Quick, who turned aside the breakaway attempt but left the puck sitting in the slot. Toews swooped in and batted it in and the rout was on.
The Hawks did not have a shutout all last season and that trend continued when Scuderi's long shot sailed past a screened Crawford late in the second period. In the third, Nolan cut the deficit to two but Hossa scored 15 seconds later to seal the deal for the Hawks.
Toews was in the lineup after missing Friday's practice with the flu. Winger Daniel Carcillo left the bench after a collision along the boards late in third period and did not return to the ice.
Scratches for the Hawks were Brandon Saad, Jamal Mayers and Michal Rozsival.
ckuc@tribune.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
Blackhawks throttle Kings 5-2
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Blackhawks throttle Kings 5-2
