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Kings overpower the Wild in the Third |
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No matter what the score is, you can never count the Los Angeles Kings out in the third period.
With the Minnesota Wild leading 2-1 going into the third period, the Kings blitzed back with four goals to beat the Wild 5-2 on Tuesday.
I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog that the Kings tend not to start on time, where they have given up the first goal in 18 of their first 29 games. Conversely, the Kings have outscored their opponents 40-13 in the third period this season.
To go along with that, Los Angeles have only allowed more than one third period goal once in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 12.
“I think this team, as long as I’ve been here, going back to when Terry [Murray], when Darryl [Sutter] was here, and certainly now, this team knows how to win,” said John Stephens prior to Sunday’s game against the Blackhawks. “They understand what it takes to win and they really try and bear down in the third period. I know the first period is important too… but the ability to play well in the third under tight situations gives a real credit to the players.”
The game against the Wild was no different than what the Kings have trended all season. Charlie Coyle opened the scoring in the second period when he redirected a pass from Christ Stewart past Jonathan Quick.
Four minutes later, Jake Muzzin got all of a slapshot right at the top of the faceoff circle which beat Devan Dubnyk and tied the game.
The Kings only got to enjoy the tied for about a minute as Tyler Ennis took the puck around the net and jammed at it enough for it to jump up and hit the roof of the net to give the Wild a 2-1 lead.
This is where the Kings exploded in the third and the Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik show took place. Five minutes into the third period, the pair of Kings made Dubnyk and Ryan Suter look silly and pulled a perfect passing play on a two-on-one, finished off by Gaborik to tie the game at two.
Adrian Kempe then got into the action midway through the third when his pass intended for Tyler Toffoli was knocked away by Dubnyk and hit Jonas Brodin’s skate, back into Dubnyk’s net to give the Kings their first lead of the game.
A minute and a half later, Kopitar won the faceoff right to Gaborik, who’s shot is deflected off a Wild defenseman and past Dubnyk to give the Kings a 4-2 lead. The goal was Gaborik’s 400th goal of his career and was Kopitar’s 500th assist of his career.
In the dying seconds of the game, Kopitar sealed it with an empty net goal giving him a goal and two assists on the night.
“It feels good,” said Gaborik after the game. “400 goals, I’m very proud of it. Congrats to [Kopitar] for his 500th assist. It’s kind of ironic that his 500th assist was on my 400th goal, especially against my former team.”
Halfway through the game, with the Kings struggling to score, Stephens shuffled the lines a bit which seemed to wake the entire team up. By the end of the game the lines ended up like so:
Gaborik – Kopitar – Brown
Pearson – Kempe – Toffoli
Iafallo – Shore – Lewis
Jokinen – Mitchell- Brodzinski
It will be interesting if things stay this way as it reunites Gaborik with Kopitar which has worked for the Kings during their Stanley Cup years. As well, Kempe has worked well with Pearson and Toffoli at times this season as well.
However, it does put most of their fire power within the first two lines so if Stephens intends to roll four lines out, it can limit the scoring.
Prior to the game, it was announced that the Buffalo Sabres will be loaning Matt Moulson to the Ontario Reign. Moulson, who had to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL, started in the Kings’ organization before the Islanders took a shot on him. Interesting how things end up circling back.
Next up for the Kings, the Ottawa Senators will be coming to town on Thursday. The Sens have been struggling heavily of late, losing eight of their last nine games. They will also be playing the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, meaning the Kings will get them on the second half of a back-to-back. This will be the ninth time the Kings are in this situation and are 4-4 when facing a team on the second day of a back-to-back.
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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