The Key Three: March 11

The shootout might look like a happy-go-lucky skills competition, but imagine the pressure that must have been on the Kings’ shooters before every attempt last night. With the goalies locked in a save-for-save shutout battle, every attempt meant the difference between two points and one point in the standings, and at this point the Kings can’t afford to leave any points on the table. The Kings came through, and two players got some sweet redemption. Jonathan Quick, who had allowed four goals in each of his previous two starts, and had been struggling by the admission of his coach, was brilliant throughout the game and unbeatable in the shootout. Mike Richards, coming off arguably his worst game of the season, two nights earlier in Detroit, broke the shootout deadlock with a goal in the sixth round.

The Kings dominated most of the first period, but the Blackhawks controlled much of the final 40 minutes of regulation, so the Kings had to feel a bit fortunate to get on the plane and head home with the two points. A regulation loss would have been disastrous, and a shootout loss would have brought only a single, hollow point. What was the key aspect of the Kings’ 3-2 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks? I present three options at the link below, and you can vote for your choice…

The Key Three: March 11

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For those who enjoy the traditional game recap, it can be found by clicking here.

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