Kings vs. Caps: 7 goals means J-Will is back!

By Emily Redenbach
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: March 10, 2016

Oh what a night! At the beginning of the season both Lori and I predicted a Kings/Caps Stanley Cup Final and if tonight is any indication that would be a stunning series. The game marked the return of former Kings Justin Williams and Mike Richards, who each had a video tribute to them and a standing ovation. They also both started on the ice for the opening face-off (oh Barry Trotz did you really think those mind games would work on us?)

The first period was all LA Kings. They were giving all the hits, winning all the face-offs, and getting all the shots on goal. No really, they were out shooting the Caps 4-0, then 11-2, then 14-6 by the end of the period. Kris Versteeg wanted to earn his time on ice by making some great plays and showing Mike Richards how a number 10 should play (perhaps that was overly critical of Richards but it was a noticeably great play by Versteeg.) The first power play of the game went to the Kings; Anze Kopitar drew a tripping penalty and Vincent Lecavalier capitalized on it. (Originally it was Tanner Pearson from Alec Martinez and Versteeg, which would have been his first point as a King, but alas.) Martinez did his jazz hands thing, shooting from the point that the net front presence of Pearson and Lecavalier managed to shove past Braden Holtby. Less than five minutes into the game (4:52 to be exact) the Kings were looking good.

Goal number 2 came not too long after, at 12:05. It didn’t come as a surprise considering the puck possession the Kings had; Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis in particular had a long shift battling along the boards to keep the puck in the Caps zone. It didn’t result in a shot on goal but they kept hustling and the puck didn’t get past the neutral zone. It was Tanner Pearson who created the play that led to the Kings second goal; he streamed through the neutral zone and dealt a sick pass to Jake Muzzin who’s shot rang true. But 2 goals just wasn’t enough for the Kings, who scored for the 3rd time Less than 90 seconds later. The Kings found themselves on the right end of a 4-on-1 rush led by Jeff Carter, who easily fed Milan Lucic. Holtby, not knowing which King to defend, gave up the goal to Lucic at 13:26 and the Kings were sitting pretty with a 3 goal lead going into the second period.

With Richards and Nick Shore in the box for coincidental minors at the end of the first period and Dwight King attempting to fight Mike Webber the first rounded out a heavy puck possession period for the Kings. The second was much of the same. A lot of time in the Capitals zone, a lot of scrambles in front of the net, this time it was Kyle Clifford and Tom Wilson who got the 5 for fighting. (Whereas King destroyed his guy easily in about 5 seconds, the Wilson Clifford fight was longer and didn’t really conclude so much as the refs broke it up after it was clear no one was going to win.)

And then the third period happened. At 1:01 Dwight King took a holding penalty that would clearly determine the momentum for the period. The Capitals scored (T.J. Oshie at 1:46.) Despite Versteeg beautifully drawing a holding penalty and Drew Doughty ringing a puck of the post, less than 10 minutes later, they did it again. Not surprising considering Lucic had lost his stick and they Caps had all the possession all period long. Then, at 16:38 even I have to admit Dmitry Orlov shot what was probably the most stunning goal I’ve ever seen. (Until maybe Jeff Carter’s OT goal but I’m slightly biased there.) The Caps outshot the Kings 18-6 in the third period; a complete reversal of the first.

Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter (77) reacts after scoring the winning goal against Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, right, during overtime period in an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The Kings won 4-3. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

So into overtime we go, tra la la. Goodness 3-on-3 hockey is beautiful isn’t it? Doughty took a bad hit from blocking the puck and was slow to get up early in but managed to be back on the ice to get the secondary assist on Carter’s overtime winner! Lucic streaking down the left side passed it to Carter right in front of the net; Holtby was in position to block Lucic’s shot but not Carter’s, who scored his 301st NHL goal in a spectacular fashion. It was a beautiful and fitting end to a game the Kings dominated for 2/3rds. You’ll see a lot of Kings names here contributing to the win, but with Doughty’s ice time creeping back up to almost 27 minutes and the complete breakdown in the third period there’s always more work to do. Join the Kings again Saturday where they play their 2012 Stanley Cup Finals opponent the New Jersey Devils.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time!