Los Angeles Kings Defeated by Winnipeg Jets 5-4 in a Shootout

Saturday night the Los Angeles Kings were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 in a shootout at home.

L.A. got off to a terrible start, giving the Jets the upper-hand.

6:39 into the game the score was 3-0 Winnipeg.  To say the least, faithful fans of KingsNation were not pleased.

Jets goals came from Mathieu Perreault (at 3:39), Bryan Little (4:31), and Blake Wheeler on the power-play (6:39).  Michael Frolik, Andrew Ladd, Wheeler, Perreault and Dustin Byfuglien picked up assists on the first three goals, including two for Byfuglien.

“We can’t give up five goals and expect to win a hockey game, that’s what it comes down to.” said Alec Martinez in a post-game interview.  “You can’t have first period starts like we’ve had,” Martinez continued, “In the second half we started playing more of a team game.  We started to match their physical play, but at the end of the day you can’t give up that many goals and expect to win.”

Late in the first with Byfuglien in the box for interference, Jets forward Jim Slater shot the puck over the glass giving the Kings a 5-0n-3 power-play opportunity.

Jan 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson (34) defends a shot on goal by Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

In 1:27 the Kings were able to pick up two goals with the power-play advantage.  Anze Kopitar scored first, getting his 9th of the season from Drew Doughty and Marian Gaborik.  Justin Williams scored second, his 12th, from Jake Muzzin and Doughty.

The second period saw no scoring but some improved play from the Kings squad.  Dustin Brown was trying to lead by example and give the Kings some life.  Doing everything the captain could, Brown was zipping all over the ice throwing his body around.  Brown’s play inspired his teammates, and the Kings struck next.

A minute and a half into the third period Marian Gaborik tied the game.  A feed from Anze Kopitar hit Jets defensemen Toby Enstrom’s skate landing right on Gaborik’s stick in the low slot.

The Kings continued with their fourth unanswered goal by, that’s right, Kyle Clifford!  Did you suspect anyone else would give the Kings the lead?

Clifford smacked home his second goal of the year at the top of the crease.  Trevor Lewis put a shot on Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, and Clifford was able to find the puck through traffic and slap the puck back at Pavelec.  Clifford’s second shot hit Pavelec’s right pad, bounced off Jets defensemen Mark Stuart’s skate and into the net.

Less than two minutes later Winnipeg’s Zach Bogosian erased the Kings first lead of the game.

After the period ended and a scoreless overtime the game went to a shootout.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick stood on his head in the shootout.  Literally.  Well almost, stood on his back would be more accurate.

Here’s Quick’s stop on Mathieu Perreault in the second round of the shootout:

In the fourth round of the shootout Bryan Little was the first to score for either team.  Mike Richards had an attempt to answer with a goal of his own but shot the puck high and wide of the top left corner of the net.

The team and especially Jonathan Quick struggled early in the game.  Quick picked up the pieces, but his numbers continue to be anything but impressive.  Quick finished with 21 saves on 25 shots and a .840 save percentage.

There was more bad news for the Kings:

Tyler Toffoli was a last-minute scratch this afternoon.  After discovering a rash in the aftermath of Thursday’s game Toffoli met with the Kings team doctors.  The physicians performed some blood work and diagnosed Toffoli with mono.  At this point Toffoli’s time-table for return is unknown.

Tanner Pearson went down along the boards in the second period.  Pearson skated off the ice only putting his weight on one leg.  After the game it was discovered Pearson broke his leg.  There is no time-table for his return.

Hopefully the team can recover and regroup.  It’s going to take a lot of heart to pull this team closer together in the midst of a struggling three-game losing streak at home, where everything seems to be falling further apart.

The Kings next game is Monday night at 7:30 p.m. PST.  L.A. will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Staples Center.

Next: Los Angeles Kings Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar Headed to 2015 All-Star Game

Jan 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets right wing Matt Halischuk (15) celebrates a goal in the third period of a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Jets won 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports