After Explosive Third Period, Kings Prove It’s Better to be Quick Than Fasth
By Ryan Cowley
Game 17: Kings Win 5-2, improve to 9-6-2
LOS ANGELES – With an 8-0-1 start to his career, Anaheim netminder Viktor Fasth was in pursuit of setting a record, vying to set the longest unbeaten streak for a goaltender to start a career. Unfortunately for the Swede, he never faced the Los Angeles Kingsbefore.
Feb 25, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter (77) gets past Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) for an open net goal in the third period of the game at the Staples Center. Kings won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
After a scoreless first period, the Ducks wasted no time getting to work in the second as Andrew Cogliano opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the frame. The Kings answered as three minutes later, Dustin Penner tipped in a pass from Jarret Stoll to tie the game. Last season, it took the one they call “Pancakes” 26 games to earn his first tally. This year, it took 17. It may not be a whole lot more impressive but the Kings will happily take it.
After Saku Koivu regained the Anaheim lead on the power play just a few minutes later, the Kings elevated their play becoming a little more physical and more importantly, generating a few more scoring chances – and late in the frame, it paid off as Dustin Brown snapped his sixth past Fasth to tie the game once again.
But if you were impressed with the Kings for the first 40 minutes, you would have been floored by their performance in the third.
4:46 into the final frame, Slava Voynov slapped his third behind Fasth to give Los Angeles their first lead of the night. Then, just over a minute-and-a-half later on the power play, Jake Muzzin scored his second to give the Kings some insurance.
Despite being stopped on a Dustin Brown penalty shot, the Kings made a statement in the third, completely taking over the game, determined to keep their win-streak going and there was no better way to finish than having their leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter add his 10th into an empty net to ice it.
With the 5-2 win, the Kings not only even the season series with their hated rivals or win their fourth-straight game but they hand Viktor Fasth his first-career loss. One of the most impressive rookies and goaltenders thus far, it seemed as if nothing could slow down Fasth. Of course, a date with the reigning champs changed that and the Kings, as a result, continue to fly high after their slow start to the campaign.
Los Angeles certainly had everything working on this night. With 24 saves, Jonathan Quick made everyone forget his lacklustre performance in Anaheim at the beginning of this month and trailing twice, the Kings showed plenty of resiliency clawing back both times before running away with it late.
Overall, the Kings put together another performance they should be very proud of. With four-straight wins, Los Angeles will now look to make it five-in-a-row as they prepare to host the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday in an effort to avenge their heartbreaking loss a couple of weeks ago. It should be fun.