Los Angeles Kings Defeat Minnesota Wild 2-1

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in Sunday’s high new showdown.

This is the Kings fourth straight win at home, after beating the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues.  In the first six games of the season the Kings have a record of 4-1-1.  The next six games will all be against teams from the Eastern Conference: Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Carolina Hurricanes.  Games against the Sabres and Blue Jackets are at home.

After beating the Colorado Avalanche twice in a home-and-home the Wild fell to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday before going into Sunday’s game against the Kings.

Just under seven minutes into the first period the Kings were awarded a power-play opportunity after Charlie Coyle was called for high-sticking Drew Doughty.  Receiving a pass at center ice from Slava Voynov, Tyler Toffoli one-touch passed the puck to Mike Richards.  Richards carried the puck into the Wild zone on a routine three-on-four.  Richards took the puck wide and threw a pass to the front of the net.  Wild superstar defensemen Ryan Suter blocked the pass with his stick.  Suter, however, was unable to control the puck, and it ricocheted right off Suter’s stick to Tyler Toffoli cutting through the slot.  Toffoli scooped the puck up and fired a quick shot that beat Wild goaltender Nicklas Backstrom.  1-0 Kings.

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It was the second power-play goal of the season for the Kings.  The Kings have struggled on the power-play throughout their first six games going 2-for-20.  The Kings rank 23rd in the NHL converting 10% of their power-play chances.

There was no scoring in the second period.

But three minutes into the third, That 70’s Line struck again.  Tyler Toffoli passed the puck behind the net to a passing Jeff Carter.  Carter quickly, no-look-passed the puck back to Toffoli, catching a downed Wild defender off-guard.  Toffoli stepped out from behind the net and placed a perfect pass into the wheel-house of Tanner Pearson.  Pearson was wide open in the slot and fired a one-timer slapshot past Backstrom, who had no chance to make a save.  2-0 Kings.

The Wild would make a game of it, breaking Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick’s shutout almost four minutes later.  Wild defensemen Justin Fontaine skated back to the blue line and held the puck in the Kings zone.  Fontaine passed the puck to Ryan Carter in the high slot.  Carter one-touch passed the puck right onto the tape of Matt Cooke, who was alone in front of the Kings net.  Cooke was able to backhand the puck past Quick.  2-1 Kings.

With time running out on the clock the Wild desperately threw the puck at the net.  Quick stopped all the Wild attempts with a little help from his friends, holding the Wild to one goal and giving the Kings the win.

Throughout the game the Wild rained shots on the Kings net.  Quick was able to fight off the bombardment, standing on his head and stopping 40 of 41 shots for a .976 save percentage.

Quick has been exemplary in his last three games, proving he is the undisputed best goaltender in the world right now.  In the Kings last two games Quick has stopped 83 out of 84 shots.  Over those two games the Kings have registered 34 shots on their opponents; Quick has faced more than that in each of the last two games individually.  In his last three starts Quick has stopped 114 of 116 shots; that’s equates to a ridiculous .982 save percentage.

October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27) moves the puck as left wing Tanner Pearson (70) and goalie Jonathan Quick (32) defend against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) blocks a shot against Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise during the third period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Toffoli said of Quick’s performance after the game, “Quickie played great for us tonight.  He stole the game for us.”

On the other side of the spectrum, Mike Richards personally accrued 19 penalties minutes.  Halfway through the second period Richards started a fight with the Wild’s Christian Folin.  Richards was assessed at ten-minute misconduct, a two-minute instigator, and a five-minute major penalty for fighting.

Richards first six games have been lackluster at best.  He has 2 assists, 2 points, and 21 penalty minutes in 6 games.  Richards is also a -1.  He hasn’t seemed to fit in anywhere.  The Kings have had to shuffle lines because of mounting injuries and unimpressive production in terms of shots and scoring chances.  Richards hasn’t lived up to first line potential, and was invisible playing on the Kings third line.  Hopefully this is just a funk and not a trend for the entire 2014-2015 season.

Niklas Backstrom was the starting goalie for the Wild.  It was Backstrom’s first game since January 11th, 2014.  Backstrom finally recovered from corrective core surgery in February.  Backstrom made 14 saves on 16 shots for a .875 save percentage.  Not bad for a first game back, yet not enough to stop the Kings from ruling Staples Center.

The Kings penalty-kill has been good.  Largely due to their best penalty-killer, goaltender Jonathan Quick.  The penalty-killing unit shutdown the Wild, killing off all five Wild power-plays on Sunday.  The Kings are currently tie for 13th in the NHL allowing 3 power-play goals while being short-handed 22 times, for a penalty-kill percentage of 86.4%.

That 70’s line continues to be dominant.  Carter, Toffoli, and Pearson have scored 11 goals and 20 points through the first 6 games of the season.  22-year-old Tanner Pearson has 5 goals and 7 points in 6 games this season.  During the 2013-2014 season Pearson played 25 games for the Kings, scoring 3 goals and 7 points.  Not a bad start for the kid; he’s improved a little.

Let’s hope the rest of the team can catch up and keep up with Pearson and Quick’s standard of excellence.

Go Kings Go!