Kings score 7 goals, 2 for the Stars 5 for them

Congratulations really should go to Dean Lombardi, who’s added some controversial players who are all fitting in just swimmingly with the LA Kings system. His first acquisition this season Vincent Lecavalier played his 1200th NHL game tonight. Another – Kris Versteeg, who scored early in the Chicago game Monday night – scored no less than 23 seconds into the game against Dallas, the number 1 team in their division. The primary assist on the goal? Rob Scuderi, whom Lombardi reacquired around the same time as Versteeg. He took the shot from almost the blue line; Versteeg tipped it in and Kari Lehtonen let one in. (Bad pun, I know, but I had to. Don’t judge me.) Los Angeles controlled the puck easily – while Dallas is known for its offense, best in the league right now, they aren’t known as much for their defense. That was obvious as less than 6 minutes in the Kings had the only 5 shots on goal, all of the possession, and 2 goals. The second, from Tyler Toffoli, marked his second in as many games, a much-needed break to a 12 game brought. Toffoli and Nick Shore, who finally had something go his way, had some slick give and go, with Shore directly in front of the net taking Lehtonen’s attention, leaving Toffoli in the perfect position on Lehtonen’s left to wrist the puck up and over into the back of the net.

Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) scores on Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

Unfortunately the Kings then did a very Kings like thing that makes Kings fans want to tear out their hair by letting in the first shot on goal from a bad turnover in the defensive zone and immediately taking a penalty right after. The goal looked like it actually deflected of Dwight King’s skate, high over Enroth’s left shoulder, because that’s the most LA Kings thing you can do. The penalty was an easy kill, the Kings proving just why they’re the best defensive team in the league. It did give the Stars their momentum, however, as the next 4 shots on goal and puck possession for 6 or so minutes were all theirs. The Kings pushed back eventually, with each team battling evenly for the neutral zone, but neither team managing to get any shots off for a solid 5 minutes. It was the Kings who broke the tie; Milan Lucic made a beautiful stretch pass to Anze Kopitar who skated through 3 Stars to end up by Lehtonen’s blocker side, and in a maneuver only Kopitar could pull off, waited, waited, and snapped off just a gorgeous shot, amazing angle, that Lehtonen had absolutely no chance to stop. It gave Lucic a 7 game point street and Scuderi his second assist of the game, his 100th assist of his career. (And it gave Kings fans inappropriate feelings. I mean damn, that was stunning.) Kris Russell of the Stars was part of all three Kings goals this period too.

The second period was more of the same, which for the LA Kings was a good, good thing. 1:07 in Dustin Brown, who also got a goal against Chicago yesterday, was the next King to score in both nights of the back to back. His goal trickled through Lehtonen’s legs slowly, much to his surprise; he thought he’d stopped it between his leg and arm but no such luck for the Stars and all of the goals for the Kings. With 4 on 11 shots the Stars opted for a goalie change, opting for Antii Niemi. It didn’t help too much. They had only 6 shots to the Kings 12, but then a Kings power play got them back to within 2. Again it was a King who was responsible; Drew Doughty who up until this point had been performing for the Norris again, got his stick tied up with Enroth. While both were trying to clear it they combined to force the puck into the net. He did not look pleased. The Stars took advantage to take all the momentum back again, bombarding Enroth with shots, now tying their shots on goal at 13. The Kings got their first power play of the game, around the half way mark, gave Kopitar a chance at his second goal but the timing was off by only a second it seemed. It was unfortunately the best Kings chance as the Stars killed the penalty easily. It wasn’t long after that the Stars began outshooting the Kings. Never fear Kings fans, because Trevor Lewis was on it. With a sleek back pass from Lecavalier (now what a way to celebrate your 1200th game) Lewis buried the goal top shelf.

Unlike the last 2 periods the 3rd started with a Kings penalty rather than a Kings goal. It was an easy kill and unlike the Washington Capitals game, the Kings didn’t just stop playing. They protected their lead with good forecheck, board battles and throwing in some more offense of their own, each play contributing to a full 60 minute game. Anze Kopitar now co-leads the league in plus/minus with +30, followed closely by Toffoli with +29. Kopitar won 17 of 22 face-off, scored a goal and an assist for the first star of the game. It was a performance from a team worthy of the title Kings; each player assisted in the game (with perhaps the exception of McNabb in a positive way) so Sutter could even out ice time, never once out-using his stars. It was a positive back-to-back road trip the Kings will likely build on when they’re back at Staples Center Thursday to battle their former Stanley Cup opponents the New York Rangers.

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