Happy 50th! Sorry About The Home Opener

By Emily Redenbach
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Updated: October 15, 2016

The Kings are celebrating their 50th anniversary in style. Sure, Quick is down and his return date is questionable (he did not look thrilled about that let me tell you) but the night was more about the Kings of the past returning to the building, and what a reception. (Because let’s face it if we focused on the actual game, we wouldn’t make it through without a complete breakdown – kind of like how the Kings did in the second period.) Our very own Bob Miller opened the theatrics to rapturous applause – Kings fans everywhere agree it’s wonderful to see him back and healthy again! He introduced the original radio broadcaster Jiggs McDonald, who in turn introduced 13 Members of the original team, who graced the ice of Staples Center for the first time in their original Forum blue and gold jerseys. Next up came the Triple Crown Line, and Kings Legends and retired jersey members Rob Blake, Luc Robitaille and The a great One, Wayne Gretzky!

Unfortunately, the current Kings players continued their tribute to the past by remembering how to play if you don’t want to make the playoffs. I’d like to blame all the issues on not having our star starting goaltender, but a final score of 4-2 reflects many things the Kings need to work on if they’re going to survive the season. I had hope in the first period. The Kings held the Flyers to 4 shots on goal, the first of which came at 13:20. And the next three of which came on an Andy Andreoff penalty. Backing up however, the Kings had 8 shots before the Flyers got their one, including several from the Carter, Lewis Purcell line. The usual suspects – Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty – were playing exactly how you’d want and expect them to. Even Jordan Nolan was playing like he wanted to stay in the lineup when Tanner Pearson comes back next game.

Then came the second period, where it all went wrong. It shouldn’t have – Wayne Simmons spent the first two minutes of the period in the penalty box for slashing. However 3:55 into it the Flyers, who had only 6 shots on goal compared to the Kings 13, scored their first of the period. Which would have been fine if they didn’t score again 27 seconds later. That one I think most on the team would want back – Andreoff lost his man on a line change and by the time Carter could get on the ice that guy was in front of Zatkoff scoring when Greene couldn’t cover the rebound. (To be clear, I am in no way blaming Carter here.) By the time the third goal came the Kings were so out of sync it looked like there was no coming back. (That one I’m going to blame on Zatkoff; the bad turnover right before the goal didn’t help but he went down too early and should have had that shot.) Jake Muzzin, whom the Kings have been leaning on much more than I think they should since Slava Voynov left, has been having an off season (I’m including preseason in that since the season is only two games old for the Kings) and tonight some plays made that glaringly obvious. Greene and Forbert I was surprised Sutter even played after a while except that he physically couldn’t get Doughty to play every shift.
Speaking of Doughty, not every King was satisfied to be down 4-0. (Oh that’s right, there was a fourth Flyers goal. Wraparound chance the defense couldn’t/didn’t cover. It was depressing.) Kopitar won the battle on the boards, got the puck to Doughty who flung the puck at the back of the net with so much gusto weaker men would have dodged out of the way rather than attempt to stop it. But the damage was done. They were outshot 21-9 in the second and outscored 4-1 in that same span. Come the third period it was all the Kings could do to stem the tide. True, they came out much more like the team they were in the first period, if somewhat more spanked from whatever Sutter said in the locker room. Brayden McNabb, on a shot passed to him by Alec Martinez, scored the Kings second goal early in the period – and here is where we should mention while it’s great to see defensemen scoring, where were the forwards this game? A fifth goal 6 seconds into a Nolan penalty was waved off due to goaltender interference kept hope alive, but a power play 9:06 into the third that wasn’t converted was the beginning of the end. Unable to take advantage of a man advantage, the Kings couldn’t take advantage of any opportunities, including a Carter to Toffoli shorthanded bid and pulling Zatkoff for the final 2 minutes.

No matter how many home openers the Kings lose (there’s quite a bit of precedent), it felt harder on such a special evening. With these first two games played it’d be easy to think the sky is falling, but Kings fans remember it is only two games and these issues can be fixed (bring in Nic Dowd!). Tune in for a few road games next week before the Kings are back home a week from Saturday. Until then, Go Kings Go!

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