Waking up with the Kings: March 13

In a more evenly distributed run of play than their previous two match-ups, the Los Angeles Kings used a Tyler Toffoli power play goal to soldier through a first period in which both teams were able to generate scoring opportunities and zone time before playing keep away with the puck for a decent part of the remaining 40 minutes in a systematic 4-0 road win. The dagger was provided by Anze Kopitar, who turned a 2-0 lead into a 3-0 lead when Trevor Lewis’ forecheck pressured Dan Hamhuis into a turnover – now where have we heard that before? – 25 seconds into the third period. The Kings have played the Canucks three times this year and have limited a team that averages 29.1 shots per game to 19 shots, 16 shots, and 19 shots. Again, the five-on-five run of play wasn’t as one-sided as the two previous games – Los Angeles out-Corsi’d Vancouver 53-26 and 61-28 at even strength in November and January before out-attempting the home team 47-36 on Thursday – though by the time the two-goal lead was established, there wasn’t any great deal of doubt about the outcome.

The puck seemed to find Kopitar all night in what was one of the center’s finest performances of the season. His possession success was Jaromir Jagr-esque; he turned his numbers to the opposition, stuck out his backside and dared the chasing Vancouver defenders to try and retrieve the puck from him in the offensive zone. Los Angeles’ top possession player this season, Kopitar put on a demonstration of how to maintain offensive zone time while freeing up time and space for his linemates. His goal was the result of Lewis executing a suffocating forecheck – he was on Hamhuis like cheese on macaroni – and being positioned perfectly to take advantage of the ensuing turnover. His defensive zone work and stick checking was strong as well, as is basically a given on virtually any night.

In the three games between these teams this season, Henrik and Daniel Sedin have combined for two assists and a minus-10 rating. Henrik was on the ice for all three Los Angeles even strength goals last night and was kept largely away from the dangerous areas around the net. Daniel has been as effective as virtually any Canuck in getting pucks to the net; he has 10 shots on goal and had one attempt blocked in the three games. Henrik, on the other hand, has one shot on goal, one attempt blocked and two missed shots for a total of four shot attempts in three games. While the two previous games between the teams were exhibitions of the Kings’ puck possession prowess, on Thursday night Los Angeles simply checked extremely well, and that entailed keeping Henrik away from the most dangerous areas on the ice. As often happens in a lopsided, four-goal win, the winners’ top players were their best players, while the losing team’s top players had an off-night. This trend bodes well for a Hypothetical Playoff Matchup between these teams, as any Vancouver playoff series win is predicated on bountiful amounts of Sedinery.

More photos from Jeff Vinnick, because Jeff Vinnick is awesome: