Game 53: Hurricanes 2, Kings 1 (FINAL)

It’s hockey in the South, as the Kings take on the Carolina Hurricanes. All the action is on Fox Sports West and on 1150-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well…

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Bernier vs. Ward.
Hurricanes 2, Kings 1: Carolina took the lead 3:02 into the third period, thanks to some nice work by Jeff Skinner. Twice, Skinner worked the forecheck and worked the puck away from the Kings. Skinner then went to the net and was in position when Jussi Jokinen shot from the left circle. Bernier made the stop but couldn’t cover the rebound, and Skinner grabbed the puck and scored from close range. Drayson Bowman also got an assist.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Hurricanes 25-22 but fell to 0-2 on the road trip. The Kings were held under two goals for the 20th time in 53 games this season.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Bernier vs. Ward.
Kings 1, Hurricanes 1: Carolina tied the game with 4:20 remaining in the period. Jiri Tlusty blocked Alec Martinez’s shot attempt at the Carolina blue line, then Tlusty controlled the puck and skated in on Bernier. Tlusty pulled up in the middle of the right circle and beat Bernier with a high wrist shot for the unassisted goal.
End of period: The Hurricanes outshot the Kings 11-10 in the period. The Kings went 0-for-1 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

FIRST PERIOD
Lineup set: The Kings have Andrei Loktionov and Alec Martinez in the lineup, in place of Kevin Westgarth and Slava Voynov. Mike Richards will center Dustin Penner and Jarret Stoll. Loktionov will center Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis.
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Bernier against the Hurricanes’ Cam Ward.
Kings 1, Hurricanes 0: After they killed off an early penalty, the Kings took the lead with a power-play goal at the 4:58 mark. Anze Kopitar went to the high-slot area, took a pass from Justin Williams and flicked a quick one-timer past Ward. Jack Johnson also got an assist.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Hurricanes 8-4 in the period. The Kings went 1-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Jonathan Bernier wasn’t heavily tested, but did make a point-blank save on Bryan Allen with just more than four minutes remaining.