Waking up with the Kings: February 27

Several abbreviated notes from Los Angeles’ 6-4 win at Colorado last night:

-Variations of the word “resilient” were used by reporters in the Kings’ locker room after their come-from-behind win last night, and the designation was certainly appropriate after they shook off a botched holding call on Jeff Carter in the second period that led to a Jamie McGinn goal – and was followed later in the period by an Andre Benoit goal that doubled Colorado’s lead – before scoring four unanswered goals in an important 6-4 victory that opened the post-Olympic schedule on a positive note. There’s no time to rest on any accomplishments, as the Kings will quickly be tested by the Calgary Flames in what may be the toughest back-to-back of the season, given the travel and the team’s middle-of-the-night arrival. Anze Kopitar’s puck possession game was reminiscent of that of Jaromir Jagr, and his two goals and first star honors were certainly deserved on a night in which he was the best forward on the ice during a game in which a good deal of offensive firepower was on display.

-Los Angeles was rewarded for consistently driving the net. Bookeneded by Robyn Regehr’s goal and Justin Williams’ empty netter, the four goals scored by Jarret Stoll, Anze Kopitar (x2) and Jeff Carter came as a result of excellent work around the Colorado net. Without Erik Johnson available, Avalanche defenders were challenged in keeping the Kings forwards away from Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

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-Los Angeles improved as the game progressed, and that can mostly be said about the younger players who were given an opportunity by head coach Darryl Sutter. Though Matt Duchene spun off Tanner Pearson to assist on P.A. Parenteau’s first period tap-in, Pearson strung together a few quality shifts alongside Mike Richards and Jeff Carter later in the game and assisted in the line’s offensive zone time in the second and third periods. Neither he nor Linden Vey cracked 10 minutes, though they became more adjusted to the pace of the game, and it will be interesting to see if they’ll be given another opportunity this evening on the second night of a back-to-back. Tyler Toffoli looked comfortable once again on the left side and earned regular shifts alongside Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams while logging 15:15 of ice time, 3:18 of which was spent on the power play.

-Though eight goals were scored through the first two periods, credit the Kings for playing a tighter game in the third period and relying on important saves from Martin Jones and a crucial penalty kill late in the game. As has been said in hockey once or twice, it’s not about how many saves you make, or how many penalties you kill, but when saves are made, and when penalties are killed. Though the Kings may not have raised their penalty killing numbers last night, they won the game because of an important kill with under five minutes to play in the game.

Jake Muzzin’s quality one-on-one defense of Nathan MacKinnon in the third period was well captured by Avalanche photographer Michael Martin. MacKinnon, the leading rookie scorer, didn’t get a shot off on this opportunity:
Los Angeles Kings v Colorado Avalanche

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