Adrian Kempe is starting to develop a flair for the dramatic.
The Ottawa Senators were beating the L.A. Kings 2-1 with 1:46 left in the third period when Kempe took advantage of a Mike Condon turnover and shot into the empty net to tie the game. Then in the shootout he solidified the win with a very nifty stick work and shot past Condon.
Kempe, who had a goal and an assist on Tuesday, has had a hot hand of late scoring five goals and seven points over his last four games.
“I think what we loved about his game tonight is that we gave a goal there, which is kind of deflating, and he almost had that look in the eye like he wanted to go out and make a difference,… head coach John Stevens said about Kempe’s impact after the game. “He used his speed to turn a puck over and then we called him in the shootout and he almost had that look like he wanted to be called in.…
Prior to the game, Stevens shuffled his lineup to put Kempe in between Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson in order to regain some of the speed and skill that was lost to Jeff Carter’s injury.
“I think we created some good chances,… Kempe said. “They’re really good skaters and they were playing the game very well. We had a couple of opportunities that we maybe should have scored on but I think overall we had a pretty good game.…
The scoring started just 24 seconds into the game when Alec Martinez blasted a shot from the point to beat Condon to give the Kings and early 1-0 lead. Dion Phaneuf returned the favor by blasting a slapshot past Darcy Kuemper to tie the game.
After the first the game slowed down considerably. Both the Kings and the Senators are known as defensive minded teams and both teams were trying to lull the other to sleep. Despite that the Kings ended up outshooting the Sens 38-23.
“I thought we played great all game,… Kuemper said. “I thought we generated a lot and weren’t really getting rewarded.…
It wasn’t until six minutes into the third period when the game broke open again as Nate Thompson scored an ugly shorthanded goal to give the Senators a one goal lead.
Thompson’s goal appeared to be the dagger in the heart of the Kings but Kempe’s goal saved the day.
“I think you’ve got to learn in hockey that you’ve got to say with it for 60 minutes,… Stevens explained. “Sometimes it takes the last minute to win a hockey game, and the same way, you’ve got to hold onto a lead.…
Since Jonathan Quick started Monday night’s loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kuemper started the game as is standard in back-to-backs. Kuemper stopped 28 of 30 shots to gain his second victory of the season.
“I just tried to go out there and play within the structure that Billy’s [goalie coach Bill Ranford] given me,… Kuemper said. “The guys played great in front of me and I just tried to do my part.…
The Kings move on to face the Montreal Canadiens, for the second time, on Thursday night. The Habs broke a seven game losing streak on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers and will be looking to gain momentum against L.A.
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