A game that was pretty close on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period and in the middle frame for the Los Angeles Kings (33-26-19) on home ice at Crypto Arena saw them emerge victorious when the clock showed zeros vs. the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division on Thursday night (April 9). Interim head coach DJ Smith and the Kings have won the last three consecutive games on home ice at Crypto Arena this past week, including the win vs. the Canucks last night.
Four combined points from Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin leads the Los Angeles Kings to a Pacific Division win over the Canucks on Thursday
The win over the Canucks in the Pacific Division in the West yesterday late this week moved the Kings and Smith back into a wildcard spot in the standings this regular season down the stretch this month in early April.
It was good to see the Kings play well for most of the game on the ice and on the scoreboard. Even though it took until later in the game in the final frame in the third period for the Kings to solidify the win on the scoreboard, the team looked better than the Canucks on the ice for nearly the entire 60 minutes on both ends.
Here are two studs and one dud from the Kings' late third period 4-1 win on home ice at Crypto.com Arena in the Pacific Division vs. the Canucks on April 9.
Stud: Anton Forsberg, G
The second time in this past three days saw goalie Anton Forsberg start for Smith and the Kings and the coaching staff late this week on Thursday night on home ice in the crease for the team in the Pacific Division vs. the Canucks. Smith and the Kings are still reserved about outright saying who will be the starting goalie this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division down the stretch.
"That’ll be a conversation that I’m going to have with Bucks, management and we’ll make the best decision for the organization. Give Forsy credit. He’s playing some net right now and the guys are playing in front of him. So, we’ll do what’s best for us to win and we’ll do what’s best for us to make the playoffs. "DJ Smith on Anton Forsberg
But Forsberg has more confidence playing defensively for the Kings in the West this regular season down the stretch. Forsberg has been playing really well, and the defense looks calm and confident in the zone playing in front of him in the crease in this past week or so in the West.
Forsberg had his second impressive start defensively for the Kings in net in as many games starting for the team this past week. He stopped 24 out of 25 shots yesterday, allowing just one goal in the 4-1 win on the scoreboard.