Kings Sunday Night Victory – Recap of First Victory Over the Winnipeg Jets

Sunday night the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Winnipeg Jets at Staples Center.  The Kings secured their first victory of the season, defeating the Jets 4-1.

That 70’s line, of Jeff Carter (77), Tanner Pearson (70) and Tyler Toffoli (73) got things going and kept up the tempo throughout the game.  Just over six minutes into the first period Kings forward Jordan Nolan brought the puck into the Jets zone, rushing along the left side boards.  Nolan cut back and passed the puck to defensemen Drew Doughty, who was breaking into the slot joining the rush.  Doughty faked a shot and slid a pass over to Carter near the right circle dot.  Carter deked to his backhand and crashed into Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson.  Hutchinson made the save on Carter, and also made the save on Doughty as Doughty shoved a rebound shot to the net.  Hutchinson couldn’t stop the third Kings attempt when the puck found Tyler Toffoli at the left side of the open net.  1-0 Kings.

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Five minutes later Justin Williams was in the corner of the Jets zone battling along the boards.  Williams worked the puck back to Doughty at the point.  Doughty stepped up and fired a slapshot at the net.  Hutchinson made the save but gave up a huge rebound that landed right on the stick of Kings forward Marian Gaborik, as he fought for position in front of the net with Jets center Bryan Little.  Gaborik suavely slid the puck across the top of the crease to the crashing Anze Kopitar who fired the puck high over the sprawling Hutchinson.  2-0 Kings.

This was a big goal, because it was the first of the season for the Kings first line.  After two games of being held scoreless this had to be a weight lifted off their shoulders.

Two minutes into the second period Toffoli forced Jets defensmen Jacob Trouba to turn the puck over at center ice just outside the Jets zone.  Toffoli body-checked Trouba by the Jets bench, allowing Tanner Pearson to pick up the puck and streak into the Jets zone.  Carter joined the play to create a 2-on-1, but Pearson just shot the puck on the middle of the net.  Pearson’s shot went low-blocker, and Hutchinson got a good piece of it, but the puck trickled through.  3-0 Kings.

At that point Jets head coach Paul Maurice had enough.  Maurice pulled Hutchinson replacing him with Ondrej Pavelec.  Hutchinson faced 13 shots in 22:03, allowing 3 goals for a .769 save percentage.  It was just Hutchinson’s fourth start in the NHL.

That holed up the Jets problems for short span, but with 3:18 left in the second period, That 70’s line struck again.

This time it was Carter getting the goal after he banged in another loose rebound.  Pearson fired a pass across the neutral zone from blueline to blueline.  The puck hit Carter’s stick near the center ice dot, deflecting past the Jets defense right to the stick of Toffoli along the boards.  Toffoli broke into the Jets zone on a breakaway coming off the right side of the ice.  Toffoli fired a shot that was stopped by Pavelec; Toffoli slapped his own rebound low and Pavelec stopped that as well.  Carter crashed the net and the third rebound was too much for Pavelec.  4-0 Kings.

A minute later, as Toffoli’s goal was still being announced on the ice, Bryan Little scored on a one-timer-rebound, to spoil the shutout for the Kings.  4-1 Kings.

Oct 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Martin Jones (31) blocks a shot attempted by Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson (34) blocks a shot during the game against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

There were no goals in the third period.

It was a rout on the scoreboard, and the Kings dominated the flow of play but the game was closer than it appeared.  The Kings outshot the Jets by only 1 shot, 31 to 30.  Backup goaltender Martin Jones got his first start of the season for the Kings with a stellar performance.  Jones stopped 29 of 30 shots for a .967 save percentage.

The Kings special team woes continued as they went 0-for-3 on the powerplay.  They are now 0-for-11 with the man-advantage on the season.

Kings defensemen Drew Doughty was a standout finishing the game with 2 assists, a +2 rating, and 23:21 in time on the ice.  Doughty surpassed Marty McSorley to become the fifth all-time leading Kings defensemen in assists with 164.

That 70’s line also had a strong showing with each player on the line registering a goal and an assist.

The Kings are now 1-1-1, with their next game on Tuesday night as they take on the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center.