Thursday night the Los Angeles Kings took on the Dallas Stars in Staples Center. It was the second game in as many night for the Kings who were shutout, falling to Dallas 2-0.
The game wasn’t controlled by one team. Momentum shifted back and forth between zone time, puck control and shot dominance. The Kings and Stars traded chances and control of the puck.
It was the Stars who jumped out early, out shooting the Kings 7-2.
On his first shift of the game Kyle Clifford tried to get the Kings energy level up by dropping the gloves with Curtis McKenzie.
Nov 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Clifford (13) and Dallas Stars left wing Curtis McKenzie (11) exchange punches in the first period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Kings finally started to regain the momentum and catch up on shots during a first period penalty kill, with Brayden McNabb in the box for delay-of-game after shooting the puck over the glass, with seven minutes left in the first period. The Kings were able to kill the penalty, but as soon as they were five on five, things fell apart again.
As the penalty expired, Dallas forward Ryan Garbutt picked up a loose rebound on his own shot, turned by the bottom of the circle and took a wrist shot that hit Kings goaltender Martin Jones and trickled under his arm into the side of the net. 1-0 Dallas.
In the second period the Kings fought back, out shooting Dallas 14-7. Unfortunately and most importantly Dallas out-scored the Kings.
With 12:30 left in the second a shot by Jamie Benn hit the cross-bar, then hit the netting and went out of play. Play continued, and Jason Spezza picked up the puck, passing it over to Benn who shot the puck past an unprepared Martin Jones.
Upon further review, with the new NHL rule in effect – the goal can be changed on replay review – the officials saw the puck hit the netting, and the goal was waived off: no goal. 1-0 Dallas.
Lamentably the Stars got it back. Spezza came into the Kings zone with Jamie Benn on a three on three. The Stars had speed coming through the neutral zone, and Benn hit Spezza on a cross ice pass, Spezza cut into the center of the ice and answered back with a low shot while Tyler Seguin was in front of the net screening. 2-0 Stars.
Alec Martinez left the game in the middle of the second period. Martinez was still being evaluated into the third period. He did not return. It was reported today that Martinez required surgery on a finger, and there is no time-table for his return.
The Kings seemed to get some swagger with about seven minutes left in the second. L.A. was cycling on the Stars down low, with the fourth line of Jarret Stoll- Trevor Lewis- Kyle Clifford out working the Stars.
Toward the end of the shift the puck came to Jarret Stoll on a rebound, while Stoll was alone in the crease. It looked like an easy tap-in. Dallas goaltender Lethonen stuck his glove out and robbed Stoll. Stoll, and the rest of the Kings faithful were left shocked and shaking their heads. So far in this young season, this looks like it was the save of the year.
The Kings continued to bring it more to the Stars as the second period came to a close, but no results came on the scoreboard. The hope was, that as the Kings continued to chip away at the Stars momentum would swing back in their favor, and goals would follow.
Coming into the night, Dallas had been outscored 22-11 in the third period. They bucked the trend on Thursday.
The Kings got a power-play opportunity early in the third, but were unable to convert. Drew Doughty had a few chances, but on one pass the puck was bouncing; Doughty tried to whack it out of the air, but couldn’t and the puck was cleared. On another attempt, Doughty whiffed on the shot, and didn’t get the puck back for a second try.
The Kings continued to shoot the puck and press the Stars with desperation, but nothing got through. The curse of snake-bitten shooters struck again. At the end of the game the teams were tied in shots 27 to 27.
With two minutes left in regulation the Kings pulled Jones from the net in an attempt to get on the board.
The closest the Kings got to scoring was when Tyler Toffoli’s pass missed Jake Muzzin and almost went all the way down the ice into the Kings net. The puck went half a foot wide.
It wasn’t like the Stars dominated the entire game. Dallas was able to catch a couple breaks and convert on scoring chances, where the Kings could not.
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Power-plays were ineffective on both sides. Dallas was 0-for-4, while the Kings were 0-for-3.
Defensive personnel problems continue to be a major influence on the Kings performance. Now Alec Martinez is out, for who knows how long. The best estimates are one to four weeks.
The loss was L.A.’s second regulation loss at home this season. The Kings are now on a two game losing streak, including the point against Anaheim for a shootout loss. The Kings have only been shutout at home one other time this season: opening night, October 8th, against the San Jose Sharks, when L.A. lost 4-0.
The Kings looked a little slower, a step down from their usual play. The emotional toll, and energy from the Anaheim game the night before, visibly eroded the Kings.
The Kings next game is Saturday afternoon, at 1:00 p.m. PST. L.A. will host the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center, looking for a shot at redemption and a much needed 2 points.
Nov 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Dwight King (74) and Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) crash in front of the net in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports