Game 43: Kings 5, Capitals 2 (FINAL)

Random trivia of the day: this is officially game 615 of the NHL schedule, the midway point. All the action will be on Fox Sports West and on 1150-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well…

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s Bernier against Michal Neuvirth, who replaces Vokoun.
Kings 5, Capitals 1: The Kings reached the five-goal mark for the fifth time this season with a power-play goal with 8:56 remaining in the period. Drew Doughty shot from the top of the left circle and Neuvirth made the stop but couldn’t cover the puck. Justin Williams, parked to the left of the net, jammed the rebound into the net. Jack Johnson also got an assist.
Kings 5, Capitals 2: The Capitals made it a three-goal game with 6:18 remaining. Marcus Johansson got his second goal of the game, as he alertly picked up, and shot, a re-direction of a point shot by Roman Hamrlik. Alexander Semin also got an assist.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Capitals 35-22 in the game.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Bernier vs. Vokoun.
Kings 3, Capitals 1: The Kings reached the three-goal mark for the 11th time in 42 games this season. Kyle Clifford picked up the puck and sped to the other end, on what turned into a 3-on-1 break. Clifford pulled up in the Washington zone, then hit the trailer, Jack Johnson, who fired a wrist shot past Vokoun 3:01 into the period. Trent Hunter also got an assist.
Kings 4, Capitals 1: The Kings reached the four-goal mark for the eighth time this season, as Jarret Stoll scored with 3:33 remaining in the period. Mike Richards forced the puck away from John Carlson deep in the Washington zone, and then Dustin Penner took the puck to the net. Vokoun made the stop, but the puck stayed in the crease as Stoll skated in and knocked it into the net.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Capitals 14-8 in the period. The Kings will be on the power play for the first 1:16 of the third period.

FIRST PERIOD
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Bernier against the Capitals’ Tomas Vokoun.
Capitals 1, Kings 0: The Capitals took the lead just 1:34 into the game, on a counter-attack and on their first shot on goal. Marcus Johansson took a pass from Mike Knuble and entered the Kings’ zone with speed. Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi went down to block the possibility cross-ice pass, but Johansson still beat Bernier, short-side, with a medium-range wrist shot.
Kings 1, Capitals 1: Kyle Clifford’s goal tied the game with 8:19 remaining in the first period. Trent Hunter turned and fired a shot from the top of the left circle. Vokoun made the save, but left a juicy rebound. Clifford beat Alex Ovechkin to the puck and rifled a backhand shot past Vokoun from close range. Willie Mitchell also got an assist.
Kings 2, Capitals 1: The Kings took the lead with 34 seconds remaining in the period. Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown forced the puck away from a Capital near the front of the Washington net, then Brown turned and fired from close range. Kopitar deflected the shot past Vokoun.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Capitals 13-7, went 1-for-1 on the penalty kill and did not have a power play. Dustin Brown didn’t score on a breakaway chance with just under four minutes remaining.

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