Strong finishes critical to success

A good start is important, and preventing teams from establishing momentum in the second period is as well, but often the most important work gets done in the third period. Consider the last game, in which the Kings shut out the Red Wings in the third period and hung on to a one-goal lead. In their last five victories, the Kings have allowed only three third-period goals (and that was in one game, after they built a big lead over Colorado). By contrast, in their last five losses (including overtime and shootout), the Kings have allowed 10 third-period goals. Terry Murray talked about the third period of the Detroit game and how the Kings need to build on it…

MURRAY: “We only gave up two scoring chances, and one was right at the end, with the goalie out, on that bang-bang play. There was a great checking attitude, which you have to bring to every game, but when you play Detroit, that has to be a key to the game, and it was a key to the game, at the end.”

Question: And, especially early in that third period, you continued to push the action also…

MURRAY: “That’s the key to it, is not to get into that mindset where we’re just defending. We want to build on the lead, and that’s a big part of checking. Being aggressive, to get pucks into the offensive zone, forecheck heavy, be hard on their defense, and it’s a five-man responsibility. I thought everybody was pressuring up, pinching at the right time, good reads from our F3 (forward) and we played from above in the right situations.”