The LA Kings will travel for Game 1 of the Western conference finals best of seven series against the Chicago Blackhawks in a pro hockey game on Saturday afternoon. Face off time from Chicago is scheduled for 5PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by NBC Sports Network.

The game one NHL playoff odds have the home team Chicago Blackhawks favored by -150 odds with the return on the LA Kings at +130 odds. The goal over under line is set at 5 goals.

The LA Kings and Chicago Blackhawks met three times during the lockout shortened season with Chicago winning two of the three games. Chicago wins 5-2 at Staples Center on January 19th in the season opener and nearly a month later beat the Kings at home by the score of 5-2. They met on March 25th in Chicago and the Kings post the 5-4 road victory. LA was not playing good hockey early this season and by March 25th they had hit their good form.

The Kings opened up their playoffs by defeating the St Louis Blues in six games. They then faced division rivals San Jose Sharks and LA was taken to seven games and earn the 2-1 home victory on Wednesday as a -146 betting odds home favorite. The game landed under five goals.

LA opened up the 2-0 lead after two periods then the Sharks got within one goal with a Dan Boyle slap shot from distance at even strength at 5:26. Jonathan Quick turned aside some good scoring chances by San Jose in the final 14:34 of the final period to allow LA to advance into the Western conference finals for the second straight season. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has a playoff goal against of 1.50 with three shutouts in his 13 games played in the post season. Center Mike Richards is leading the Kings with 10 points in the playoffs.

Chicago opened up the playoffs by defeating the eighth seeded Minnesota Wild in five games. They then drew the Detroit Red Wings and fell behind 3-1 in their western conference semifinal round. Chicago then pulled off three straight victories including a come from behind 4-3 win at Detroit in game six to force a seventh and deciding game. The Blackhawks advanced into the Western conference finals following a 2-1 home overtime victory on Wednesday to the Detroit Red Wings as a -196 home betting favorite. The goal total landed under five goals.

The home team Blackhawks drew first blood in their game seven as Patrick Sharp scores at even strength at 1:08 of the second period. Detroit found the equalizer at 26 seconds of the third period with a goal by Henrik Zettenberg. In overtime at 3:35 defenseman Brent Seabrook scored at even strength and the Blackhawks advanced into the Western conference finals. Chicago is the top scoring defense in the NHL by allowing two goals per game. In the playoffs Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford has a goal against average of 1.70. Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp lead the club with 11 points each in the postseason.