Kings Fight Cancer, and the Blue Jackets for 2 points

It was Kings Fight Cancer night at the Blue Jacket’s game, always a moving evening where the organization celebrates those who have beaten cancer, mourns those who didn’t, and raises money for a cure. The ceremonial puck drop one year ago was done by a child battling cancer – 10-year-old Cooper; he returned this evening to drop the puck again, this time cancer free. They Kings also honored one of their scouts Denis Fugere, who himself battled cancer and is now in remission, during the first period intermission. During the second period Jay Flats was brought to tears by the daughter of two season ticket holders who recently lost her battle with cancer.

Let’s be real – the first period was a snooze fest. While I appreciate the efforts of Dwight King as a third or fourth liner, it’s still a mystery to me why he plays on a top line with Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli. The line generating the most chances was Andy Andreoff, Dustin Brown and Nic Dowd. They created many nice rebounds for their linemates, and in some cases themselves. Play was flowing smoothly, with few stoppages or spectacular play that would leave anyone gasping. Shots were 11-4 in favor of the Kings and it was beginning to look a lot like one of those games that the Kings completely dominate play, then let in one stupid goal and end up losing. Come the second period, I wasn’t far off in that prediction. Tanner Pearson, who since he returned to the lineup has been the Kings leading scorer and is usually in fine form, gave the puck away to a Blue Jacket, Jake Muzzin didn’t have his man and Peter Budaj was completely faked out by an admittedly great play. Brandon Saad 1:31 into the second looked to pass the puck, instead snuck one past Budaj for the game’s first goal.

It took 12 minutes for the Kings to answer and equalize. The goal started with Toffoli, who forced the turnover in the neutral zone and worked his cupcake magic to keep it in play for the Kings. He got it to Kopitar, who then jumped over a Blue Jacket, skated around the back of the net, passed to Gilbert and waited for the goalie to focus on him. Gilbert created a slick pass back to Kopitar who was still buzzing around the left of the net and snuck the puck past his right shoulder. In true Kings fashion, the goal was followed immediately by a Brown penalty (a pity because otherwise I think he had a solid night) and 19 seconds later a Blue Jackets goal. Atkinson slapped a rocket past Budaj and put them up 2-1. Now if the Kings could do as well on their power play a 48 seconds later the second period would have ended better. Instead it was amateur hour, particular for Jake Muzzin, who couldn’t connect on a pass to save his life. They couldn’t set up a shot and let a few too many shorthanded chances in (which really one is too many.)

The Kings couldn’t buy a goal for most of the third period, despite some gorgeous Jeff Carter and Toffoli tries. Finally with less than 5 minutes remaining Drew Doughty made a shot I don’t think anyone expected to go in, including the Blue Jackets goalie, who was as surprised (though less excited) than the crowd to see the puck deflect weirdly off his chest and into the back of the net. Despite their best efforts the Kings made it to overtime (it got a little dicey there for a few minutes) for the third time in as many games. And who do you look to for clutch overtime goals? Alec Martinez obviously! “I feel like a broken record, but Ty and Pears just do the work and then I pick up the scraps, apparently,” Martinez says. We don’t mind, Martinez, as long as the puck gets in the back of the net! And perhaps next game the Kings will win in regulation. We shall see on Thursday, when they play the Nashville Predators.

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