I must admit the play of the Kings rendered me totally speechless. That was an amazing effort by the team and such a twist to see the Predators play exactly as the Kings have in the past when they lacked confidence.
First, lets take a moment and reflect on the fact that we have a second line, a serious second line!! O’Sullivan, Nagy and Frolov established a credible second scoring unit. I know that O’Sullivan got no points on the Visnovsky goal, but he made it happen. Seriously.
O’Sullivan held the puck around the boards, held off more than one Predator player totally alone allowing the Kings to make a line change, have fresh legs and enable Visnovsky to come in and score his first goal of the year.
The first period was one of the strongest puck possession periods the team has played in awhile. The Predators played to start the game as I have seen the Kings play in the past when they were winless. Nashville was throwing checks instead of shooting and clearing their defensive zone. To a degree it worked, because there was a good 4-5 minute span of the first when neither team was shooting.
It appeared to this blogger that for that time, the Kings backed off a bit because the price of shooting was a good body check from the Predators. The problem was that the only reward the Predators got for their efforts was a lack of shooting. Not much of a reward for their physical efforts, so they inexplicably stopped the only part of their game that was visible.
As a result, the Kings retook momentum and really never let it go except for isolated small sparks from the Predators. Nashville had a mere 3 shots on goal in the first and at one point went more than 10 minutes without a shot. In truth in the first, they played even less than that as they were rarely in the Kings’ defensive zone.
Whenever the Predators got the puck to the Kings’ end, any offense attempted was squelched by Labarbera whom as the #1 star, and rightly so, definitely let his play show that he wants to earn that #1 spot and eliminate all doubt that if Lombardi trades for a goalie, it is for insurance, not for his spot. And, good for him, but he has to continue the roll he is on to be truly credible in this league, on this team and in the dressing room.
Amongst other great things the Kings did, it must be said that while the Kings’ penalty killing has been a bit of an Achilles heal, the team stayed out of the box for all intents and purposes except for one delay of game. I refuse to consider Armstrong’s penalty as a real penalty since he essentially was defending a teammate and not taking a lazy or detrimental penalty for the team.
Honorable mention further goes to John Zeiler, Ivanans and Kyle Calder. The former with such a great check (and best physical effort of the night) when he essentially tossed a Predator into the Nashville bench that he himself lost footing. When challenged by Smithson for his hard work, he answered the call quite admirably. Zeiler is looking to be more than just an energy player and good for him too!
Raitis Ivanans further played strong. He was rewarded for his efforts with his own first goal of the season. I have read more than one post or two on the Kings’ boards calling the team’s enforcer as slow, or ineffective. Personally, I see him bring an energy and try to make his reduced minutes count.
Ivanans goal was made possible by Armstrong’s strong play to maintain possession despite 2 Predators no less trying to create a give away. No reward again for the Predators as Ivanans came skating into Armstrong’s left and his timing and shot proved dead on...yeah!
A big thanks goes out to letsgokings.com who have the video of this play, watch it here:
http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=65762
In the second period, Calder and Handzus made an attempt for the net and despite Calder wearing a Predator like some cheap suit, his only reward was a check that did not result in Calder dialing it back, not at all. Calder’s physical efforts and intensity at some point will be rewarded by more points.
I also must give due (sorry Cammalleri for forgetting you in my first blog's draft), the guy only got 2 more goals scored and retook the spot for #1 goal scorer in the entire league. Here is to hoping that this streak continues and Cammalleri shoots quite literally for the Rocket Richard trophy. It has been a long time since a King has taken home some hardware. (crossing my fingers for him now)
In fairness to both teams, this was one of the least penalized games I have seen in a long time. The first call of any kind did not come until midway through the 2nd when Legwand took a holding penalty and actually had the referee physically act out the hold. Does talking to a referee ever really work once a player is called? No, of course not. Perhaps Legwand needed to learn for next time... huh?
On the power play, the Kings made the Predators pay as Nagy shot, and Frolov was there for the rebound. In the NHL, generally speaking, a goalie is going to stop every shot he sees and the offense more often comes from the follow-up shot or two, as was the case here when Frolov skating hard to the net connected. Hence, hopefully dispelling any baseless trade rumors being alleged in the near future about Frolov going anywhere.
Blake has been taken some heat from the press and this blogger for his play this season. It is only right I give him his due for his game against Nashville. When the Kings were on the penalty kill and the Predators were crowding Labarbera, Blake repeatedly made them pay, again and again and again. Truthfully, I am more than a little surprised Blake wasn’t penalized. Notwithstanding this possibility, I am glad Blake’s play finally spoke louder than his off ice critiques of the team and its play.
One of the more unique events of the night actually happened off the ice. I am not trying to diminish the Kings’ strong dominating game, not at all. Nonetheless, in the stands, a over zealous Predators’ fan was behind that team’s bench and appeared to the person in front of me with binoculars that he tried to climb over the glass at his own team... ouch!
Security moved this individual away from the bench and that proved to be a bad choice. A fight broke out between this guy who started shouting “Lets go Predators”. Peanuts were tossed only to be followed by fisticuffs, five security people in red blazers and his female friend following when she joined the melee by throwing a beer in the stands... Double ouch!
The whistle to continue play actually got delayed to watch this spectacle. The only thing that topped it no doubt was the Zeiler check of a Predator into his own bench. Bar none, a treat to watch... woo hoo!!
The only quiet moment goes to Jack Johnson who did not play in the 3rd due to injury in what is being a called a charley horse. A fitting diagnosis for a rookie who has become the ice time workhouse on the Kings' back end this year.
When the dust settled, the game ended and the Kings had one of its most complete efforts, 4 even strength goals (a much needed addition to their game), they were victorious with a 6-0 win. The Predators were the left to ponder the possibilities and actually had a closed door meeting after the game for 20 minutes while each player tried to accept responsibility that as a team, they played beneath their abilities and need to regroup, restart and take charge of their year. This is an emotion that the Kings, the fans and this blogger know all too well....
Carla Muller
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