Los Angeles Kings Fall to Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in Overtime

On Tuesday night the Los Angeles Kings lost in Philadelphia to the Flyers 3-2 in overtime.  The Kings came back to tie the game after being down 2-1 in the first period, but couldn’t follow through and finish off the Flyers.

In the first period, the two leading scorers for the Flyers added to the tally.  Jakub Voracek was behind the Kings net and put a pass out to Claude Giroux in the slot.  Giroux fired a shot that ended up being blocked by Kings defensemen Jake Muzzin.  The puck dribbled off the block right to Michael Raffi who scored on the redirection.  1-0 Flyers.

With just under seven minutes in the first period and Jordan Nolan in the penalty-box, Tyler Toffoli answered back, scoring his second short-handed goal of the season.  Flyers Matt Read attempted a pass to Michael Del Zotto at the point, but the puck was bouncing.  The puck bounced over Del Zotto’s stick and Toffoli took off, skating in on a breakaway and scoring on a deke, to beat Flyers goaltender Ray Emery.

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Before the end of the period the Flyers would regain the lead on a goal by Chris Vande Velde.  With 44-seconds left the Flyers were able to keep the puck in the Kings zone, working down in the corner, cycling the puck.  The Kings were caught standing flat-footed, and Voracek took advantage passing the puck to Vande Velde who was cutting into the slot.  Vande Velde one-timed the pass past Jonathan Quick who was scrambling to make the save.

There was no scoring in the second period.

Five minutes into the third period Mike Richards was able to tie the game.  On the play Drew Doughty brought the puck into the Flyers zone.  Doughty passed it across the zone to Kyle Clifford who pulled an un-fancy spin-move and put a shot on the net.  The rebound got kicked back out to Doughty who whiffed on the second shot attempt.  However, Doughty’s whiff ended up deflecting off of Clifford’s stick right to Mike Richards.  Richards was streaking into the zone from the point where he had been covering for Doughty, and slapped a top-shelf shot to make it a 2-2 game.  Richard’s goal helped secure a point for the Kings as they forced overtime.

Unfortunately for L.A. Brayden Schenn was the hero in a controversial overtime goal.  Take a look for yourself:

In a version of poetic justice, a fumbled play at the point gave up a breakaway that resulted in a goal, similar to Toffoli’s, with the exception of Jonathan Quick being dragged into the net.

The question was whether or not Jonathan Quick was pushed into the goal, or if the officials blew the whistle before the puck crossed the line.  After further review it was deemed a good goal, and the game was over for the Kings.

Jonathan Quick who was understandably frustrated, was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty for breaking his stick on the goal-post, then throwing it toward center ice as he berated the officials on his way to the dressing room.

Despite the controversy, the game was ruled a loss for the Kings.  Part of the outcome, can be attributed to the way the game was played.

Philadelphia is a team that plays a run-and-gun style of hockey.  Coming into the game against L.A. the Flyers had given up 30 goals against, thus far in the season.  That was the most in the NHL.

The Flyers give up a lot of goals because of their all-out attack strategy.  They’re built for it.  Speedy forwards on the front end and bulky defensemen on the back end.  The bulky defenders slow up the opposing team’s forwards and game, by taking up space in the middle of the ice and clogging up space along the boards.

The speedy forwards are always pressing, always attacking and moving the puck up ice.  The advantage this strategy provides a team is utilized by jumping on slower teams or defensive teams, that tend to sit back and let their opponent bring the game to them; waiting for the opponent to make a mistake and then capitalizing on a rush.

Between the Kings defensive system and a shortened bench – that will have trouble keeping up at the end of a longer game, the Flyers were able to apply their system and get the better of the Kings in OT.

Oct 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Quick played well stopping 40 of 43 shots for a .930 save percentage.  In his 8 games this season Quick has allowed only 14 goals; Quick has 2 shutouts, a .950 save percentage, and 12 penalty minutes.  Quick has been, not surprisingly, the best player on the team in the Kings first 9 outings.

The Kings record is now 6-1-2 after dropping the first game of their five game road trip.  Their next game is Thursday in Pittsburgh.  Puck drop against the Penguins is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PST, or 7:00 p.m. EST.

Oct 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) knocks down Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll (28) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Kings, 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports