Kings Losing Streak Snapped
- Updated: January 23, 2018
The Kings went into this game trying to overcome a six-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history since an eight-game streak in December 2007. The Rangers came into the game coming off a 3-1 loss to Colorado the night before and needing a win themselves. They’re currently contending with Pittsburgh and the Islanders for the last wild-card spot in the East; the Kings have bumped out of the playoffs a couple of games ago and need to leapfrog the Flames to get back in. Ah yes, it’s almost the All-Star Break which means it’s almost time to start seriously looking at the standings. This game was a must-win for the Kings not only for the playoff contention but for the morale of the team. They played better against the Ducks on Friday but it wasn’t enough. Their record against the East is much better so this needed to be the game.
It almost wasn’t. Iafallo started the game with promise; a good forecheck led to a chance Adrian Kempe couldn’t control and allowed to be turned over. Twice. Then when 2 minutes in exactly Marian Gaborik continued his disturbing trend of taking penalties, the teams disturbing trend of giving up the first goal early in the game reared its ugly head again. The Kings have given it up in the last five games going into this game – not a trend that’s encouraging considering that they’ve lost the last six. With 8 seconds remaining Derek Forbert failed to defend leading to the Rangers first goal. So much for the best PK in the league. The no look drop pass was killing the Kings in the neutral zone and as they were being outshot 8-3 it was leading to too many Rangers chances. And a second goal; the Kings were sloppy, mishandling the puck and getting schooled for it. They looked like an AHL team, not the Kings who streaked into the season-ending up the last team to lose in regulation. Immediately following the second goal Kyle Clifford took a delayed penalty that took the Kings almost a full minute to actually get control of to start the penalty. No player on the ice (I won’t name names but they weren’t top line guys) could get a sense of where the puck or Rangers players were going to be. I was honestly shocked they didn’t score before the penalty could be officially called. Finally the trainwreck of a period ended; the buzzer rang and down went Kempe and Smith’s gloves. Down went the helmets, and almost down went Kempe as fists flew. Quick had a few words himself – they were both in defense of a somewhat dirty play against Trevor Lewis and clearly worked magic.
(photo credit to Newsday.com)
The team that came out in the second were a completely different team. Was there an exorcism of the AHL players that possessed them in the intermission? More likely Kempe’s first NHL fight showed the Kings they needed to be playing for each other, and everyone stepped up. The Kempe fight gave the Kings a power play to begin the period, and they took full advantage. Jake Muzzin’s shot from the left point sailed past Lundqvist and the Kings had life again. They were back in the game, which of course meant they took a penalty. Instead of being a momentum killer it ended up boosting the Kings; they killed it easily and segued into their own man advantage. For the second time they converted – what is this magic? Two power plays, two power-play goals. Amadio proved his place in the lineup by following up Alec Martinez’s pass from behind the net with a stunning shot that rocketed straight past Lundqvist, tying the game. Finally, the Kings weren’t losing (a feat they hadn’t accomplished since 14:07 of the second period against the Flames January 4th. By 8 minutes in, they were outshooting the Rangers 8-1, trending in the right direction and taking control of play. They owned the neutral zone, they were connecting on passes, they were making plays. Kempe drew the third penalty with a fast breakaway the Rangers couldn’t stop legally, and wouldn’t you know it they scored for a third time. Martinez was in on the play again, taking the shot that dribbled under Lundqvist’s legs, though it was officially tipped in by Tanner Pearson. Another penalty kill (thanks, Muzzin) again didn’t kill any momentum, showed by Lewis’s breakaway that showed such hockey since I was reminded again how grateful we should be he didn’t end up in Vegas. He didn’t score but he, as usual, did everything else right and kept the Rangers on their toes. The two teams couldn’t seem to close out a period without a fight; Kyle Clifford and Miller got into it which led to game misconducts for both.
The third was much less exciting but thankfully was nothing like the first period. The Kings kept the pressure, Quick kept them in it, and no one gave up. Iafallo, in particular, had a sequence with Brown that was so fast and relentless that none of the Rangers had time to react – except Lundqvist, who kept things interesting and tense. It was so refreshing to see the Kings hustle, so it was even more disappointing to see Gaborik have a chance to seal the deal and have hustle levels at zero. He had a clear breakaway but meandered his way through the neutral zone allowing several Rangers to catch up before he had a good chance to shoot. With 4:55 remaining at this point, the Kings could have used a little insurance. Instead, they had to deal with a pulled goalie and keep incredibly focused. Kopitar had the chance to seal the empty net deal but somehow fell, leaving it to – who else – Lewis, to score it. The last serious losing streak the Kings had was in November; they went 1-6-1 then followed up with an eight-game win streak. So here’s to the next eight games.
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