Winning Streak, Overtime Thrills Continue for Kings Over Blackhawks
- Updated: November 27, 2016
Nothing quite like an overtime game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings. And nothing better than a win. The two teams, rivals from playoffs past, have seen their share of heart-stopping overtimes. And though the stakes weren’t as high in this Saturday game at the Staples Center, the 2-1 Kings victory must feel sweet, giving the team its fifth consecutive win.
The 12-9-1 Kings now sit tied for second with the San Jose Sharks with 25 points, one point behind the Pacific Division leading Edmonton Oilers. The Kings next play the Sharks November 30 in Los Angeles.
Saturday’s game saw the Kings ready to go, as the team overshadowed the Blackhawks everywhere but the scoreboard in the first period. Outshooting, outplaying, outskating and outchecking, the Kings tallied 13 shots to the Hawks four in the first. The Kings even had one goal disallowed early on, as the backhanded goal of Tyler Toffoli was nullified due to Tanner Pearson’s interference with goalie Scott Darling.
The lone goal of the period went to Patrick Kane who tipped high into the net a low slapshot by Duncan Keith. At 11:21, that was the only Blackhawk shot on goal for the majority of the period. The team effort was complete for the Kings, playing aggressive, creating traffic in front of the opponent’s net, with their worst play coming on a dreadful power play, in which the team was called for offsides three times, and its only shot coming against its own goalie.
The Kings scored early in the second to even the score. At 0:57, Jeff Carter slid a long pass over to an open Alec Martinez who ringed in a shot off the crossbar. Though the Kings held the advantage in play through the second, the team was outshot 8 – 2 by the Blackhawks in the third. Even so, there would not be another score through regulation. There would though be a penalty at 18:59 of the third to Brent Seabrook for delay of game.
As the power play came to a close in overtime, the four on three became a four on four. At 1:06, with the help from a screen by Toffoli, Carter fired a wrister over the left shoulder of Darling, getting his 10th goal of the season.
Said LA coach Darryl Sutter, through the Kings Insider Jon Rosen, “We look at it as still a power play goal. We’ve done that about four times now where we’ve scored right after. Obviously it’s a big goal. It’s a good shot by Jeff.”
Kings goalie Peter Budaj, who saved 18 of 19 shots, played in his 20th straight game and is now 12-6-1. Through the Kings Insider, he said, “I feel really good. Thank God I’m healthy. That’s what matters – I feel really good. Just don’t try to think too much ahead, just try to go one game at a time, one practice at a time and don’t think too much ahead.
Said Budaj,
“We have a great group of guys; we stick together. It’s a long season, up and downs. You’ve got to even it out, stay even keel. The boys are playing really well in front of me and doing everything right, and we’re getting the wins, so it’s very good. We’ve just got to keep going, stay positive, don’t get too high and just get ready for the next game.”
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!
Related Posts
About Jim Ellis
