Blackhawks preparing for Kings to push back at home

The Chicago Blackhawks launched the Kings’ season in January. They’d love to end the Kings’ season this week.

The top-seeded Blackhawks capitalized on home-ice advantage to win the first two games of the teams’ Western Conference final series. Game 3 — the third in four days because of scheduling conflicts at the United Center and a compressed postseason schedule — will be played Tuesday at Staples Center. Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday, also at Staples Center.

The Kings will take a 14-game home winning streak into Tuesday’s game, the Blackhawks’ first visit to Los Angeles since the Kings raised the Stanley Cup banner on Jan. 19. The Blackhawks won that game, 5-2.

“A long time since we played here. A special day when we began the season here for them,” Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville said during a news conference at the team’s Beverly Hills hotel.

“They played well here all season long. I think the starts are going to be important to the game. Let’s be sure we take care of what we have to take care of. We expect a hard game. Physically they come after you. We want to make sure we’re smart in that area and be proactive as well.”

Forward Patrick Sharp said he emerged from the back-to-back games in good shape and doesn’t mind playing three games in four days.

“Things are happening quick,” he said. “Feel like we just got off the ice.”

Defenseman Brent Seabrook said the Blackhawks aren’t intimidated by the prospect of playing on the Kings’ home ice Tuesday or by the Kings’ 7-0 home record in the playoffs.

“Just got to worry about ourselves,” he said. “We had a lot of things we wanted to get accomplished in Chicago. It’s no different here.

“We know about their record at home, but we’ve got to come out and play our game, continue to do the things that have made us successful.”

The Kings might have to play without center Mike Richards, who was pulled from the lineup shortly before Game 2 began.

Coach Darryl Sutter said Richards began feeling “symptoms” during the warmup, indications that Richards has a head injury although Sutter stopped short of saying Richards suffered a concussion as the result of a Dave Bolland hit late in Game 1. The NHL doesn’t require teams to disclose injury information and most don’t, and they are especially close-mouthed during the playoffs.

Sharp played with Richards — and current Kings forward Jeff Carter — for the Philadelphia Phantoms when that team won the 2004-05 American Hockey League championship. Asked how much the Kings would miss Richards if he can’t play, Sharp said the Kings could best answer that question but offered some insights into Richards’ strengths.

“I think everybody knows what type of player he is, how valuable he is to whatever team he’s playing on. He’s won at every level,” Sharp said. “When you take a guy like that out of their lineup, I’ll let them answer how it affects their team. Who knows what’s going to happen going forward, but I’m sure it’s a big loss for them.”

The Blackhawks aren’t scheduled to have a game-day skate on Tuesday because of the early start, at 6 p.m. Pacific time. The Kings are scheduled for an optional skate Tuesday morning at Staples Center.

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