Tuesday night the Los Angeles Kings lost in a shootout 3-2 to the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. The Kings were able to mount a comeback after falling behind 2-0 in the first two periods, ultimately losing the extra point in a four round shootout.
L.A. was slow off the start displaying no sense of urgency. It’s a bad habit that’s been an undercurrent of the Kings play this season.
Four and a half minutes into the game the Oilers struck first. Dwight King coughed up the puck along the half-boards to Oilers forward Matt Hendricks. Hendricks worked the puck to Oscar Klefbom at the point. Klefbom swing a quick pass to Derek Roy on the far side. Roy dished a quick pass back to Hendricks, coming off the boards to the high slot. Hendricks one-timed a booming slapshot past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Dec 30, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) is beat on a shot by Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks (not pictured) during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Halfway through the second period the Oilers doubled-up the lead.
Alec Martinez stepped up into Oilers forward Taylor Hall at the top of the circle in the Kings zone. Martinez put Hall down on his hind-parts, and the puck went out to the point. Jeff Carter was caught spinning his wheels, turning to follow the play and the puck hit the skate of Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Nugent-Hopkins kicked the puck back to Hall, who jumped up, took the kick-pass and headed toward the Kings net. Nugent-Hopkins rejoined the play cutting through the slot, putting Matt Greene in a short 2-on-1. Hall hit Nugent-Hopkins with short pass for a one-time snap shot, and Nugent-Hopkins picked up his 11th goal of the season.
Heading into the third period L.A. was outshooting Edmonton 22-16.
The third period was all Kings. L.A. showed some signs of life after finally finding the back of the net.
With just under 10-minutes left in the game, after a TV timeout, the officials announced that the Kings were awarded a good-goal. A shot by Doughty crossed the goal-line before Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens knocked the net off it’s moorings. 2-1 Oilers.
With time winding down Oilers forward Justin Schultz took a two-minute penalty for high-sticking Tyler Toffoli, putting L.A. on the power-play.
Deep in the Oilers zone Kopitar swung the puck around the boards to Doughty. Doughty back-hand flipped the puck back to Kopitar as he came up the wall and cut to the middle following the circle. Kopitar dished the puck to Marian Gaborik at the side of the net. Gaborik took to whacks at smaking the puck in short-side. Gaborik was denied but came away with the puck and moved behind the net. Gaborik passed the puck out to Jake Muzzin six feet off the top of the crease. Muzzin one-timed Gaborik’s passed but didn’t get much of a shot. Luckily for the Kings the shot trickled through Scrivens and into the net, tying the game.
No goals were scored in the overtime period and the game required a shootout.
It took four rounds to decide a victor, during which only one goal was scored. In order the shooter for the Kings were: Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar, Tyler Toffoli, and Justin Williams. Edmonton tapped Derek Roy, Jordan Eberle, Matt Hendricks and David Perron.
Perron came in with speed deked on Quick and roofed a back-hand shot into the net.
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Perron’s attempt snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Oilers.
The Kings were able to salvage one of the two points they needed very badly. L.A. is getting back to their old ways: outshooting opponents, getting down early, and failing to win winnable games. Hopefully the new year will bring a change to such tendencies.
L.A. lost their eighth game on the road. Last night’s game was the 12th time in 18 games the Kings have allowed the first road goal.
The Kings were 1-for-4 on the power-play, and killed off all four penalties taken.
Last night’s game in Edmonton was the second of the season for Jeff Schultz. Schultz came into the lineup on Monday against the Calgary Flames in place of Brayden McNabb, and suited up last night in place of Jamie McBain. In 2 games this season Schultz has 0 points and an even plus/minus.
Drew Doughty was on a tear, especially as time was winding down. The Kings defensemen has stepped up his game when the team is down and victory is slipping away.
In one sense it’s great, because Doughty is doing everything he can to help carry the Kings. In another sense it’s a major problem, because Doughty is the only player that seems to be flying around desperate to get the win. Doughty is blowing by opponents and Kings players, who seem reluctant and willing to standby and watch Doughty carry the flow of play.
Jonathan Quick started the game for the Kings on back-to-back nights. Quick has been standing tall for the Kings all year but hasn’t got much help. L.A.’s game-plan has shifted focus to offensive output because of the teams goaltending strength. Despite the shift in focus the Kings still struggle to put the puck in the net, as defensive play suffers from the lack of proper attention.
The Kings next game is New Year’s Day in Vancouver against the Canucks. Puck-drop at Rogers Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST.
Next: Los Angeles Kings: Holiday Report
Dec 30, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Dwight King (74) looks for a rebound in front of Edmonton Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens (30) during the third period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports