Waking up with the Kings: November 5

It’s not always the back-to-backs that serve as pitfalls – remember two seasons ago, when the Kings were 10-2-1 on the second night of back-to-back sets? – but rather the three-in-fours and four-in-sixes, and Los Angeles was ready from the start against a team that traveled west across the conference to face San Jose on Wednesday and Anaheim on Friday. No, it didn’t result in a win – for 40 minutes, far from it! – but the Kings played a smart, tightly checked first period on Saturday that didn’t exactly deserve to end in a 2-0 home deficit. Jessi and I awarded one scoring chance to Nashville in the opening 20 minutes, and the P.K. Subban goal didn’t qualify. The Predators ultimately gained their legs and played a tightly structured second period, and that’s when the game got away from the Kings a bit. Struggling to penetrate the visitors’ 1-1-3 forecheck, Los Angeles wasn’t able to get anything going through the neutral zone in the second period and ultimately ceded a goal on an impressive individual effort from Filip Forsberg, one of the most exciting and dangerous players in even strength hockey. He sidestepped Tyler Toffoli, and as he drew Christian Folin towards the high slot with him, placed a beautiful puck to his left that was scooped up by Craig Smith in stride and snapped up high past Darcy Kuemper to provide a three-nothing lead. The Predators might not have had the finest first period, but they were about to shake off a three-games-in-four-nights stretch, right?

Ehhh, not so fast. If a team faces a multi-goal deficit to start a third period, the best remedy is an early goal, and the Kings received one 16 seconds in from Alex Iafallo off a confident, sturdy move down the center of the ice by Anze Kopitar. Kopitar was among the very best players on the ice for the first 26:55 of his 27:01 of action, his largest haul in nearly two full years. His assist on Iafallo’s goal was representative of his overall effort. He played a patient, controlled game, attacked the center of the ice with force and protected the puck well, as he is inclined to do. On the game-tying goal, he raised his stick to consider a slapshot but drew back, allowing two defenders to pressure him as he retreated towards the half-wall. The double team opened up space, which Kopitar immediately identified before sending a backhanded feed to Drew Doughty, who sent the puck to an unmarked Alec Martinez for the equalizer. It’s awfully tough that the game-winner came as the result of his offensive zone turnover, but credit the eminently responsible Viktor Arvidsson, who had five shorthanded goals last season, for deftly picking his pocket and sensing an opportunity to sprint up-ice. He’s among the last players you’d want to face in a special teams breakaway, and after receiving the extended Calle Jarnkrok feed, ended the game by beating Darcy Kuemper between his glove and his left pad.

Over 82 games, teams will find themselves down by three goals. On Saturday night, the Kings got a point out of such a game. That’s an awfully good point. A challenging week ahead awaits, which opens with the first Freeway Faceoff game of the season, and continues with visits from east-leading Tampa Bay and San Jose, winners of four in a row. (The Lightning visit on the second night of a back-to-back, so hello, Boods?) It is often said that you have a much better sense of where exactly teams are at after Thanksgiving, and six of Los Angeles’ 10 games through Thanksgiving weekend are against divisional opponents. There’s lots of compelling hockey in the near future, beginning with Tuesday’s visit to Anaheim.

-Lead photo via Aaron Poole/NHLI