Who Needs Goals? The Kings Don’t.

Not going to lie, I teared up at the Kings tribute to former teammates Jake Muzzin, Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford, all back at Staples Center for the first time since they’d been traded to the Maple Leafs. Such incredible gentlemen, such hardworking players, and such love still clearly there for every fan in the stands. Muzzin waved from the press box with a brace on his broken hand, Campbell stood from the bench where he was backing up Anderson, and Clifford nodded from his place on the ice, where he was in the opening lineup. Sorry I need a minute, I’m tearing up again.

Right some hockey things happened too. Some pretty good hockey from the Kings to open, that is until Prokhorkin made a couple of bad moves on the same shift and I started to get slightly concerned. The Leafs have the third best offense in the league, and rookie mistakes like that were bound to be capitalized on. Mistakes that continued when it appeared that none of the Kings could connect on a pass, giving the Leafs complete control of the neutral zone for a good while there. Seriously boys who were you passing to all period? I’m baffled. 8:33 in Trevor Lewis took a penalty the Leafs couldn’t capitalize on because of some very strong defense and timely clears. Quick looked strong, Doughty looked less so. Adrian Kempe’s speed got him a breakaway that he seemed surprised at once he got to Anderson – he shot wide but did draw a penalty. The message didn’t get to the Kings though, who did nothing with said power play except let Kapanen get his own very strong shorthanded breakaway and was stopped by the post. (I facepalmed pretty hard.) Less than a minute after that power play ended (which thank God really) they got another, which while better wasn’t anything to write home about.

In the second we were privy to more of the same second period whateverness we’ve been used to – while it’s gotten better, it’s still not great. They still have no offense, though their defense has been much approved of late. Seriously no offense, I don’t know if Anderson even saw other players for the first half. Quick, meanwhile, was doing his best impression of the worst goal he’s ever let in where he skated out too far – almost to the blue line – to play the puck, lost it, spun around and watched it sail behind him. Thankfully this time not into the net, and he got up in time, but he uncomfortable in his position for the rest of the shift. When the Kings finally did get chances, they had no finish. Like none, it was pretty sad. Doughty’s off night continued (he did have some big hits on Clifford but he also had a lot of giveaways) with a penalty as the second wound down – Quick was looking confident again, however, and was more than up to the task. “Quickie was exceptional again and then a group who tried to check, when we did make mistakes, the goalie was there” McLellan said. “Pretty good penalty kills.”

By the third I was sure it was going to a shootout or the Kings were going to make one giant mistake at the worst time and ruin it. With Quick stopping another breakaway (the Leafs were getting a few too many of those for my liking) but Kempe taking a penalty made me think it’d be the latter. There were plenty of ‘how did he not score there’ from both teams, earning both goaltenders stars for the evening. And overtime. And despite a penalty in overtime on the Leafs (I actually find a penalty in OT makes it less exciting, less space on the ice) it ended inevitably in a shootout. Prokhorkin, Spezza, Amadio and Matthews failed to convert, but Kopitar did and we almost had a win – until Nylander did too. Kempe’s stunning shot wasn’t matched by Marner and then it really was over. Quick got his first shutout of the season, 52nd in his career, and the Kings first shutout of the season. Kings got two points and while it’s clearly too little, too late, they’re on a four game win streak right now and that’s pretty exciting to watch.