Thursday night the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Staples Center. The game was a heart-stopper. L.A. ended up victorious, winning 4-3 in a shootout.
The Kings came flying out of the gate, scoring two goals in the first period and outshooting Montreal 13-2.
2:27 into the game Canadiens forward Torrey Mitchell, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline, took a two-minute penalty for hooking Dustin Brown. On the power-play Marian Gaborik was able to redirect a low point shot from Brayden McNabb past Canadiens goaltender Dustin Tokarski.
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Four minutes later Jeff Carter picked up his team leading 22nd goal of the season on a beautiful give-and-go off the boards, from Dustin Brown.
The second period was a breakdown in discipline. L.A. started running around, playing lazy defense, and turning the puck over on the breakout and in the neutral zone.
The last five-minutes of the period were a disaster. Tom Gilbert broke out of the corner, walked to the front of the net unchallenged by any of L.A.’s defensemen, and wrapped the puck around past Jonathan Quick.
1:34 later Brendan Gallagher tied the game. A backhand pass from Canadiens star defenseman P.K. Subban at the half-boards found Tomas Plekanec. Plekanec backhanded a pass right on to Gallagher’s tape. Gallagher was on top of the crease, took one stride around Quick and backhanded a shot into the goal.
Kings fans were shocked:
@TheMouthLAKings we blew a two goal lead...again. Deserve is an understatement
— Crypto.com Arena, Section 107 (@Sec107LA) March 6, 2015
It was a gloomy outlook heading into the third period. Especially after L.A. blew a 2-0 lead by giving up four un-answered goals to the Ducks in Anaheim last Friday.
Of course, seven-minutes into the third period Montreal forward David Desharnais picked up a loose puck in the Kings corner, curled back up along the boards and zipped a pass across the crease to a breaking Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty tapped in his 31st goal on the season. Pacioretty was a step ahead of Jeff Carter who had no defensive help.
Things were getting pretty dire and intense.
With 1:35 left in the game Lars Eller was breaking out of Montreal’s zone when he high-sticked Drew Doughty in the throat. Luckily Doughty wasn’t hurt badly on the play; he was able to get right up and return.
With the man-advantage the Kings pulled Quick from the net to set up a 6-on-4 situation. Anze Kopitar showed an incredible amount of patience with the puck, and hit Gaborik with a pass on the side of the net. Gaborik cut around to the front of the goal and fired a low-farside shot past Tokarski to tie the game with 45-seconds left.
Los Angeles Kings
The game eventually went to a shootout and the Kings won!
Gaborik, Carter and Kopitar all ripped sniper shots past Tokarski, making it look easy. To say Tokarski struggles in shootouts would be an understatement.
After Desharnais and Pacioretty scored in the shootout, Lars Eller hit the cross-bar ending the game in a Kings win.
Up to this game the Kings had 2 goals in shootouts all season. L.A.’s shootout record is now 2-7.
Marian Gaborik was undisputedly the games first star. Gaborik scored his 18th and 19 goals of the season, tying him with Tyler Toffoli for 2nd on the team. Gabby now has 19 goals, 17 assists and 36 points in 51 games this season.
Carter scored his 22nd goal in his 200th game wearing a Kings uniform.
KingsNation could exhale and breathe a sigh of relief after this one.
The Kings remain in 4th in the Pacific Division and 9th in the Western Conference. With 74 points the Kings are tied with the Calgary Flames. They are 2 points behind the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. They’re also 3 points behind the Minnesota Wild who have been on a tear of own in February and March.
RinkRoyalty said it would take 13 wins out of their last 20 games to get L.A. to 96 points and into the playoffs. That’s 2 down. 11 more to go.
The Kings next game is Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before the game the Kings will hold a ceremony to unveil a statue of former Kings great Luc Robitaille. Fans are encouraged to attend and join in the festivities!
Next: The L.A. Kings March Into Madness
March 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) and center Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrate the goal scored by right wing Marian Gaborik (12) against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports