Doughty Smash

It wasn’t the easiest of wins but a win none the same. With the Coyotes also winning this evening to keep a-top of the Pacific Division the Kings needed to pull off two points. (I know, in November the standings don’t mean much of anything; I generally don’t look myself until February, but it’s always nice.) The Kings found themselves on the power play early in, when Casey Cizikas tripped Kyle Clifford. To say it generated nothing is quite literal – the Kings didn’t get even one shot on goal. Again, the Kings began slightly off chemistry wise, and just when they seemed to settle into it, the Islanders scored. It was an annoyingly slick shot, but Jhonas Enroth (Quick is fine, just getting a break) kept his head in the game.

The second power play generated exactly the same as the first – nothing. Coach Daryl Sutter had Andy Andreoff, Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford on one PP unit, three you wouldn’t usually see doing special minutes. The top two lines seemed to recognize his displeasure and made the next power play count. (Islander Calvin de Haan took both penalties, within less than two minutes of each other. If he gets the next one does he get some kind of reverse hat trick?) It took literally 3 seconds to score once the PP commenced. Anze Kopitar won the faceoff, got the puck to Christian Ehrhoff (who I’m very pleased to see back in the lineup), who passed cross ice to Drew Doughty, who slapped the puck home. It was a damn fine shot. Moments later a turnover in the neutral zone saw Tanner Pearson with the puck, who made a sick pass to Kopi, and damn if I have no idea how he didn’t score then. Totally robbed by Islanders goalie Halak. Of course as soon as things looked to go the Kings way, Jaime McBain got a penalty. Only it was Ehrhoff – it seemed the refs couldn’t make up their minds. Either way, the Kings killed the penalty easily – Jeff Carter chased the puck after another King cleared it and seemed to be competing with Halak who came almost to the blue line to walk the puck away from him. That could have ended so differently…

But it turned out the Kings didn’t need a Carter shorthanded goal. They had Milian Lucic bunt in a redirect from a Tyler Toffoli shot right in front of the net to make the go ahead goal, 3:28 into the second. And somehow the Kings managed to keep their lead. Probably had a lot to with Enroth, who was in fine form that evening. And Drew Doughty, who I imagine Sutter as Captain America telling him Doughty: Smash. Considering the Islanders came into the game as the highest hitters in the league he seemed out to take their crown singlehandedly. But as Doughty gives Doughty can also take away; early into the third period while Brayden McNabb (who I had predicted wouldn’t make the lineup this game but seemed to be playing much better this game) was already in the box for tripping, Doughty joined him for 45 seconds. In fine Kings form, and some Enroth magic, the Kings managed to kill off both penalties easily. Is it just me or are the Kings really good at killing off 5 on 3’s? Is there perhaps too much data on the subject?

It seemed to be the momentum the Kings needed. They held the Islanders at bay, even making some nice plays of their own (Brown had some good forechecking going on), none of which lead to goals, but the important part being that none of the Islanders shots did either. They pulled Halak with around 2 minutes to go, which created quite the bit of tension at Staples Center. Nothing made it past Enroth. He’s made 3 starts for the Kings and stopped 94 of the 96 shots he’s faced in those games.

The Kings play the Oilers on Saturday, 7pm at Staples Center.