Enterprise Rent-A-Car is teaming up with the NHL to sponsor the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hat Trick Challenge. How does the Hat Trick Challenge work? Each day, fans are asked to answer three questions about that day’s game. You can score a hat trick by correctly answering all three questions in a day. At the end of the competition, a Enterprise and the NHL will award a grand prize to the entry which has scored the most Hat Tricks.
The first question of today’s Hat Trick Challenge, sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, asks fans: Will Chicago score 4 or more goals?
With a critical Game 7 like tonight’s match up, you’ve got to imagine that this is going to be a close one. After all, the Rangers clinched their berth to the Stanley Cup Finals with a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Chicago has scored four or more goals only twice in this series, with both of those happening in the last two games with their backs up against the wall facing elimination. Both teams are averaging about 2.8 goals against per game in the post season, and it’s likely we’ll see a score a little closer to those numbers as each team focuses on solid defensive play to win the game. Chicago won’t score four or more today.
The second question in today’s challenge asks if Justin Williams will score a goal?
Justin Williams is a big Game 7 guy who has had a lot of success when his team faces elimination. He scored a big power play goal against Anaheim in their Game 7 match up to get the ball rolling for LA, who eventually went on to win 6-2. Williams has had an okay series so far against Chicago, with a goal and a handful of assists. But his veteran experience is a big value-add for the Kings. making Williams a player not to be taken for granted in big time situations. Look for Williams to step it up and tally one for the Kings.
The final question in today’s Hat Trick Challenge asks which team will win Game 7.
Both teams are so similarly matched in that this is a tough call to make. The Kings certainly don’t want to be eliminated by Chicago again, and the Hawks will do everything they can to get to the Stanley Cup Finals and look to win the Cup for the second year in a row. Ultimately, give this one to the Kings. They have a greater goals per game average at 3.40 than Chicago’s 3.0, and Kopitar and Gaborik are two of the best players in the postseason so far, leading the league in points and goals respectively. Crawford is the better goalie by stats alone, but Quick is capable of being a game-changer. It’s going to be a heck of a matchup, but the Kings will ultimately get the best of the Blackhawks this time around.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is proud to partner with the NHL to present the 2014 NHL Hat Trick Challenge. For more information, you can follow Enterprise on Facebook and Twitter. Send us a tweet at @HockeyWorldBlog for the chance to earn weekly prizes! And be sure to check out Kukla’s Korner for advice on how to answer tomorrow’s question, and make sure to enter the Hockey World Blog Enterprise Hat Trick Challenge league.
