LA Kings: The three best players in Week Two
It was an up and down week for the LA Kings. Who were their best players?
The LA Kings started their season with two heartbreaking overtime losses to temporary division rival the Minnesota Wild. Despite losing the games, the Kings still came away with two points, which are worth their weight in gold in this shortened season.
The schedule then allowed for two days without a game before the Colorado Avalanche paid a visit to the Staples Center for two games. The Avalanche are considered a heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season and would surely provide a strong test for the Kings’ ability to bounce back.
Coach Todd McLellan and his team were hoping for a fast start to this season, and suddenly the Kings found themselves in a precarious position, and losing both games to Colorado would put them in an early-season hole.
In the first game, the Avalanche looked every bit the potential champion they’re considered to be. They built a 3-0 lead through the first two periods. The Kings, however, refused to quit and clawed back into the game, scoring two goals before ultimately falling 3-2 in regulation. Even in defeat, the team still showed it could answer adversity; positive steps were being taken.
Trending. Three standout players in 6-3 win over Blues. light
In the second game on Thursday night, the LA Kings would not be denied. Even though they would wind up being down 2-0 at the end of the first period, the Kings played with much more tempo. In the second and third periods, they controlled play for the most part, resulting in four goals scored and a 4-2 victory – the team’s first win of the season.
Saturday and Sunday would see the LA Kings embark on their first road trip of the season, and it kicked off with two games in St. Louis. The Kings came in the Enterprise Center with renewed confidence after winning their first game of the season, but this time the pendulum swung to defeat for the team. The 4-2 score would indicate it was a close game, but in reality, the Kings played their worst game of the season.
Saturday night was bad for the LA Kings, but Sunday night was spectacular for the club. Shaking off the bad vibes from the defeat 24 hours prior, the Kings were dominant most of the game – save a 48 second stretch in the third period when they gave up two goals. The 6-3 win leaves the Kings with 6 points and in fifth place in the NHL Honda West division. Who were their best players this week?
LA Kings best players in Week Two: #3 Jonathan Quick
Going into this season, there was a lot of talk about long-time LA Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick sharing duties or perhaps becoming the back up to up and comer Calvin Petersen. For the team’s four games this week, they each played in two games – but it was Jonathan Quick earning both of the Kings victories this week.
Petersen didn’t play poorly and can’t be blamed for the losses, but Quick was outstanding in his two games. In the Kings’ first win of the season on Thursday night versus Colorado, he was especially spectacular. Quick gave the Kings and their fans a present for his 35th birthday that night by making several timely saves that helped seal the win. In his two victories during the week, Quick stopped 52 of the 57 shots he faced.
Kings coach Todd McLellan may very well elect to keep the goaltending duties a relative split throughout the season, but if this week proves anything, it’s that Jonathan Quick still has a lot to offer. He’s also 7-0-3 in his last ten starts dating back to last season.
LA Kings best players in Week Two: #2 Adrian Kempe
Adrian Kempe had what could be called a career week, posting 3 goals and 2 assists. With numbers like these, the 24-year-old Swede looks like he might be starting to live up to the potential the Kings saw when they drafted him in the first round of the 2014 draft.
Kempe was moved to the first line, and it is obviously paying off so far for both Kempe and the Kings. Much has been said already about the confidence Kempe has been playing with, but it cannot be understated how much this has contributed to his current surge. The youngster looks to have found his identity with the team as well.
Crazy to think that Adrian Kempe would be leading the league in goals had those three goals not been later credited to other players. What a start to the season for the 24-year-old. #LAKings pic.twitter.com/YIaLvsqCaA
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 25, 2021
For most of his time with the Kings, he was slotted in as a center, which was the position he had played throughout most of his hockey career to that point. Beginning last season, Kempe was moved to the wing, where his skillset and speed seem to be much better suited.
Going forward, the competition for roster spots and playing time will get more intense as the prospects make their way to the big club, but Kempe appears ready to battle for his fair share.
LA Kings best players in Week Two: #1 Anze Kopitar
The LA Kings number one player this week is the guy who stirs the team’s drink on a regular basis – the Captain, Anze Kopitar.
Kopitar was dominant in his team’s four games this week, scoring one goal and a whopping seven assists. As previously mentioned, there was a shakeup on the Kings top line, with Adrian Kempe taking long-time linemate Dustin Brown‘s place, but Kopitar didn’t miss a beat. He assisted on two of Kempe’s three goals and looks to be taking his new linemate under his wing.
Excellence in all aspects of the game has been a calling card of Anze Kopitar’s throughout his career, and this week was further proof of that. A mainstay at the top of the Kings scoring leaders list, he looks poised to maintain that spot. For the LA Kings to continue their rise back to being a Stanley Cup contender, they will need the scoring and leadership from Kopitar they have relied on for so long.
The Captain looks to be up for the challenge.
Anze Kopitar leads the NHL with nine assists through six games, the most by an @LAKings player at this stage of a season in more than 17 years.#NHLStats: https://t.co/1YJDBxU80h pic.twitter.com/n93rnJE8ix
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 25, 2021