Monday night the Los Angeles Kings shutout the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0.
Clearly the Kings weren’t fooling around.
37-seconds into the game Kings All-Star forward Anze Kopitar opened up the scoring.
Drew Doughty took a pass from Jeff Carter at the point. Doughty carried the puck down-low into the Leafs corner brining the puck behind the net. Doughty carried the puck out to the front while being pursued by the Leafs Nazim Kadri. Doughty hit Anze Kopitar with a quick pass across the slot, and Kopitar one-timed the shot under the cross-bar past Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier.
The puck initially went in and out of the net, so play continued for almost a full minute before the goal could be reviewed. After video review Kopitar’s 10th goal of the season was confirmed.
Goals were scarce in the game, coming only in the first and last minutes.
Jan 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) holds his throat as he lays on the ice in the third period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
With the Toronto goaltender pulled for an extra skater, Marian Gaborik was standing in front of the empty goal when he got a tic-tack-toe pass from Kopitar and Carter. Carter forced a turnover from Leafs defensemen Morgan Rielly, passing the puck to Kopitar breaking into the zone. Kopitar faked a shot at the empty goal, and feathered the puck over to Gaborik.
On the night Kopitar had a goal, an assist, and a scare.
Jan 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) is assisted by a team trainer on the ice in the third period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Minutes into the third period a shot by the Maple Leaf’s captain Dion Phaneuf hit Kopitar in the face, near the throat area. Kopitar was aided off the ice, but didn’t miss a shift, returning moments later.
Good news for a Kings team rattled by injuries to Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli.
Martin Jones made 19 saves for his 3rd shutout of the season and the 7th of his young career. It’s a record for Jones, who is now the fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach 7 shutouts in 29 games.
Jan 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) is assisted off the ice by center Jeff Carter (77) and a team trainer in the third period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jones was great when he needed to be. The game was fast paced with chances coming back and forth from end-to-end.
“We did a great job of checking all night. The penalty kill was really good for us when we needed it, and the guys did a really good job around the net.” Jones said. He also added, “You put those things together, and we are a tough team to beat.”
Jones robbed Kadri on a rebound with a diving glove save. Jones also made a big stop on short breakaway from Toronto’s James Van Riemsdyk in the second period.
Jones provided some much-needed rest for Kings starter Jonathan Quick. Quick started the Kings last 12 games. Jones last start was exactly a month ago, on December 12th when the Kings lost to the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. Jones is now 4-3-2 in 10 appearances this season.
The Kings top line of Gaborik, Kopitar and Carter dominated the game. Other than the only two goals the trio had a number of other quality chances. One came in the second period when Kopitar and Carter got an opportunity on a two-on-one. Bernier made robbed Carter with a sliding pad save.
Bernier robbed Carter again in a similar break with Justin Williams. Cartier fired the puck high, Bernier directed the puck into the corner with his blocker.
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It was a tight, physical game. The Kings out-shot the Leafs 20-19, and out-hit Toronto 41-30. The Kings were 0-2 on the power-play, and shutdown 4-out-of-4 of the Leafs power-plays.
It was a big victory for the Kings in more way than one. The win puts L.A. in 2nd place in the Pacific Division. The shutout effort was a reward for the team coming together defensively, shoring up problems in their own zone. Over the last three games the team allowed 15 goals.
It was also the first win in the Kings seven-game homestand that started on January 3rd against the Nashville Predators. The Kings are now 1-1-2 in their first four-games of the stand.
The Kings next game is Wednesday, January 14th, against the New Jersey Devils. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST.
Next: The Kings Are Hitting Their Mid-Season Slump
Jan 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Martin Jones (31) makes a save on a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports