In-Game Blog: Canucks vs. Kings

Kings win 3-2 in a shootout, a huge moral victory for the team. We’ll have more notes and quotes coming up soon. Thanks for following along, you guys are always a blast.

SHOOTOUT
Kopitar shoots on Luongo – no goal — 0-0
Burrows shoots on Quick – no goal — 0-0
Brown shoots on Luongo – no goal — 0-0
Edler shoots on Quick – no goal — 0-0
Carter shoots on Luongo – GOAL — 1-0
Kassian shoots on Quick – no goal — Kings win 3-2

OVERTIME
Overtime nets no result. We will head to the Kings first shootout of the season. Two seasons ago, the Kings thrived in the shootout and last year they were not as lucky. This has been directly related to a certain goaltender’s performance.

0.51.4 — A few close calls here in the last minute by Vancouver, again with Scuderi and Doughty on the ice.

2:30 — 4-on-4 hockey but it’s anything but open as the Kings have the only shot on goal in this period.

5:00 — Puck is down, Kings 0-1 this season in OT, losing at Edmonton.

THIRD PERIOD
Everyone gets a ring and some free hockey tonight. What a deal. Kings will get out of this with at least a point. Great pressure from the Kings throughout the game and it ended up paying off. You could see the excitement from Jonathan Quick as he headed back to the crease.

0:43.2 — Yowzers. Slava Voynov with a monster blast from the point to tie this bad boy up at two. Looked like it was tipped in front. In any case, game tied 2-2.. Looks like they’re giving the goal to Voynov (1) from Kopitar.

1:07 — Kings net empty.

2:56 — Time running out. Kings need to put one more hockey puck in the net to avoid a 1-3-1 start to this 2013 season.

6:32 — One shot so far on this Kings power play that has three seconds remaining and a few close calls by Vancouver going the other way.

8:29 — As bad as the Kings’ power play has looked this season, the PK has been quite good, killing off another penalty there. Kings going back on the power play for interference (Hamhuis serving) and it’s an obviously important one here. Kings need to get jump started, they have only two shots on goal this period.

10:47 — Gagne going off for boarding. You guys can decide if that’s a good call or not.

13:35 — Kings, Quick looking sharp on this penalty kill. Clifford and Kopitar with a two-on-one, but Clifford elects to shoot and the puck is deflected high and out of play.

14:44 — Dustin Brown heading off for goaltender interference. Looks like he may have been pushed into Luongo, but no matter, the Kings power play will need to stand tall here.

16:21 — Kings rolling out this new-look 11-12-13 line to some effect. Kopitar had a nice shot from a tough angle, but another save from the Canucks “backup.”

16:55 — The Canucks have iced the puck four times in the first three minutes and five seconds. Beyond that, Dustin Brown had a nice chance that was gloved by Luongo.

18:20 — The Canucks have iced the puck twice in the first two minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
End of two periods in LA. Kings look much better than the team who played here on Opening Day vs. Chicago, but still find themselves trailing 2-1. LA finding their chances with 21 shots (including 12 in the second period). Jeff Carter ended the Kings power play futility with his team-leading third goal of the season. Kopitar now 9-of-10 in faceoff wins tonight. And Jarret Stoll doing his best Dustin Brown impression and leading all players with seven hits.

4:39 — Let it be known that at 9:01 p.m. PT on January the 28th, the Kings power play drought ended with a Jeff Carter goal, his team-leading third of the season. Assists from Richards and Gagne. The Kings cut the Canucks lead in half. 2-1 Vancouver.

7:02 — Kings certainly getting their chances with 19 shots (King and Martinez lead the way with three shots a piece), but Luongo has stood tall thus far. Kopitar also continuing his trend of being strong in the circle, a perfect 7-for-7. Most concerning for the Kings at this point are Doughty and Scuderi both being -2.

15:55 — Burrows from behind the net finds an easy goal as Quick was left guessing. Assists from Higgins and Tanev. 2-0 Canucks. Scuderi and Doughty have been on the ice for both Vancouver goals.

18:02 — Jake Muzzin with a nice backhand try on Luongo, but to Roberto’s credit he’s made some decent saves tonight. Kings coming out with a little fire here in the second period.

FIRST PERIOD
A garbage goal by Vancouver’s Kassian and two more missed opportunities by the Kings power play and we sit at 1-0 Vancouver after one period at STAPLES Center. Kings continue to be strong in the circle winning 12-of-17 face offs in the first and both teams have nine shots on goal. Interesting strategy by Sutter on the power play in the first as well, sending out the “normal” lines.

2:08 — Kings now officially 0-for-25 on the power play this season and Jordan Nolan heading off for interference.

5:43 — Kings going back on the power play as Henrik Sedin will go off for interference. Important chance coming up for the Kings.

6:52 — Three seconds later the Canucks put one on the board as Zack Kassian finds the rebound and puts it past Quick. Assists from Edler and Hamhuis. 1-0 Canucks.

6:55 — Canucks battling back now, but a couple of very strong stops by Jonathan Quick. Shots now even at 6-6.

8:41 — Kings now 0-for-24 on the power play after failing to convert on Volpatti’s tripping penalty. Stoll shot just misses after power play expires, couldn’t tell if it was a post or great save by Luongo (probably a post, right?)

11:59 — Kings looking like the old Kings early on, outshooting Canucks 4-2 and a few close calls. Will be important for the Kings to keep up the momentum and will be really interesting to see this version of the Kings on the power play.

PRE-GAME
Welcome. We are still writing under the ambiguous title of “LA Kings Insider” until we have an official LA Kings Insider but we hope you’ll enjoy this In-Game blog just the same. Both teams on the ice for warm ups. Kings in their usual blacks with Brown (C), Kopitar (A) and Richards (A) wearing extra letters. Canucks in their whites. Henrik Sedin (C), Daniel Sedin (A), Kevin Bieksa (A) and Manny Malhotra (A) serving in leadership roles for Vancouver. All fans in attendance received replica championship rings and many are already wearing them proudly.

A few more notes:

— Kyle Clifford has five points (1-4=5) and is a +6. Solid start.
— The Kings will see Vancouver two more times this season (3/2 at VAN and 3/23 in LA).
— Kings are 95-94-35 all time vs. the Canucks.
— The Kings won the Stanley Cup last year.

Kings scratches: RW Brad Richardson, RW Dustin Penner, D Andrew Bodnarchuk
Canucks scratches: D Cam Barker, C Andrew Ebbett, D Andrew Alberts

Canucks starters:
G Roberto Luongo
D Keith Ballard
D Christopher Tanev
LW Alexandre Burrows
C Chris Higgins
RW Jannik Hansen

Kings starters:
G Jonathan Quick
D Slava Voynov
D Alec Martinez
LW Kyle Clifford
C Mike Richards
RW Jeff Carter

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