What a match-up this was. The Los Angeles Kings and The New York Rangers meeting for the first time since Alec Martinez sent the Eastern Conference Champions packing in last year’s Stanley Cup Final. Well, this was not the Final and the Kings did not do much outside the first period as they lost to the Rangers 4-3 at Staples Center.
It was the scene of the crime for New York. The Downtown Frozen Dojo was more like a cemetery for the Rangers the last time they played there. This is the place NY lost the 2014 Stanley Cup to the Kings when Martinez jazz-handsed his team to victory. It was not the case this time, though it started that way.
Puck Prose
Four minutes into the game, “That 70s Line” was able to get the Kings on the board as the Tyler Toffoli –Jeff Carter–Tanner Pearson connection got LA their first goal of the game. Less than two minutes later, Justin Williams got a beauty of a pass from Dustin Brown and had no one on him on the right side. With no defender in the nearest area code, what else did he do? Attempt a slap shot, of course. This one was too good and too fast for NY goalie Cam Talbot as LA went up 2-0.
Unfortunately, that was it for L.A. until late in the game. In the mean time, the Rangers served up some revenge (funny, they are on ice!).
New York almost had a goal four minutes later, but (un)fortunately for LA, Mike Richards was called for interference on Martin St. Louis before the puck went in. But on the ensuing power play, Dan Boyle scored to stop the bleeding for the Rangers. Though LA very aggressive on offense, it was the first of many goals to come for the Rangers.
Less than 3 minutes into the second period, New York showed their savvy as Kevin Klein scored to even things up. Okay, whatever, not too bad, right? That is a negative ghost rider (patterns full!). Nineteen seconds later, Lee Stempniak had put the Rangers up 3-2 as the collective mouths of Staples Center dropped in unison.
And it got worse.
After Martinez was called for hooking, four minutes later the Rangers, who were taking full advantage of this period anyway, had scored yet again. This time it was St. Louis, who took a perfectly placed pass from Boyle on Jonathan Quick‘s left side, to put the puck into a wide open net. Though the Kings scored agains, that was pretty much the game.
January 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Justin Williams (14) scores his second goal of the game past New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot (33) during the third period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles had tried to fight back in the third period, but could only muster up a garbage goal by Williams with 4 minutes left in the game. Though Rick Nash was called for tripping with less than a minute left in the game, the Kings could not set up a decent shot to tie it up. And just like that, it was over. Game: Rangers.