Los Angeles Kings Come Back in Dallas For First Road Win

The Los Angeles Kings got their first road win on Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Stars 3-1 in American Airlines Center.

As predicted it was a fast paced game with end to end rushes going back and forth. As predicted the Kings got the win. Conversely, the Kings were able to hold the Stars . . . stars, for lack of a better word, to no points. Dallas did manage to take the lead with one goal.

Two and a half minutes into the game Stars defensemen Jordie Benn made a beautiful diagonal pass from blue-line to blue-line across the ice. Vernon Fiddler took the pass, entered the zone, and made an amazing pass, leading Shawn Horcoff and splitting both Kings defensemen. Horcoff had speed and a breakaway from the hash-marks, and roofed a shot past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. 1-0 Stars.

It was the Stars first shot of the game. The Kings had four shots at that point.

Nov 4, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Shawn Horcoff (10) scores a goal against Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 4, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) and defenseman Drew Doughty (8) celebrate their 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

With about 6:20 left in the first period, Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick made a big save on a 3-on-2 rush, where the shot was deflected by Dallas forward Cody Eakin three feet from the crease. Quick got just enough of the deflection that the puck hit his glove, then hit the goal-post and was swept away from the danger zone.

The Kings were unable to score one goal in the first period, during th entire five game road trip.

Three minutes into the second period, with Tanner Pearson in the penalty box for hooking, Trevor Lewis was able to tie the game. Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen shot the puck around the boards. It was stopped by Jarret Stoll, who cut the puck off, then batted it in mid-air with his stick. Lewis, coming from behind the net into the slot, was able to poke the puck past Jordie Benn. Lewis went around Benn and made a dekeing move just as Lehtonen attempted a diving poke-check. Lewis skirted right around Lehtonen’s stick and put the puck in the back of the net. Beauty.

Four minutes and twenty-three seconds into the third the captain was able to get his second of the season, breaking the tie. Dwight King pursued the Stars defensemen with the puck and caused a turnover. Mike Richards picked up the puck and passed it over to Dustin Brown. Brown fired a quick wrist shot through a screen by the defensemen and past Lehtonen. 2-1 Kings.

Brown’s goal was the first time the Kings had the lead during this five game road trip. Brown netted his second goal, and point, of the season on the same day he turned 30 years old. Pretty nice gift. Particularly because Brown has been playing well the last few games, doing all the little things while not being rewarded on the stat-sheet.

And still, humble as ever, leading the way as he usually does, Brown focused on his teammates, and the united effort of the Kings. After the game Brown said, “Kinger did all of the work, really, and got the turnover in the high slot, Rick just found me and I just shot it by the D and it found the back of the net.”

Brown received first star honors in the game.

The Kings weren’t done there. With just under nine minutes and thirty seconds to play Kyle Clifford got an insurance marker, making the score 3-1 Kings. Clifford forced the Stars defensemen down in the corner to make a rushed pass. Dallas forward Valeri Nichushkin missed the pass flying by along the boards. Trevor Lewis picked up the puck skated toward the net and fired a shot from the face-off dot. The shot hit Stars defensemen Sergei Gonchar in the leg, redirected and hit Clifford’s skate blade, and pinballed into the net.

Trevor Lewis was the second star of the game with the game-tying-goal and an assist.

The Kings had come back from 1-0, scoring three unanswered goals.

Though the Stars kept up a furious pace pounding 17 shots on Quick in the third period. The Stars pulled Lehtonen with 1:50 left in the game, for the extra man to try and tie the game, but to no avail.