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This is not the way to end a positive road trip.
The Los Angeles Kings were left chasing the St. Louis Blues and lost 4-2 in a game they just could not catch up.
With their second regulation loss of the season, the Kings will come off their road trip having gone 4-2-0.
“I think anytime you give a home team a bit of momentum they can swing with it, and they did that,… said Tanner Pearson after the game. “We weren’t able to calm the storm quick enough and they were able to pop a few on us and we weren’t able to just get back in the game.…
The start of the game was very similar to the Kings 4-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Montreal came out on fire and L.A. were able to hold the Habs at bay until they got a chance of their own, which deflated Montreal.
Unfortunately, the difference in this game was that the Kings could not hold St. Louis at bay long enough to take away the momentum, and that was largely thanks to Vladimir Tarasenko.
Tarasenko had a goal and assist tonight for the Blues but that didn’t tell the full story of his play. His ability to be the most dynamic player on the ice had the Kings running around trying to find an answer to contain him.
“He’s really trying to step up his leadership and I think he really understands that when he steps over the boards, people are watching him,… said Blues’ head coach Mike Yeo. “That work ethic, physicality, and engagement you see from him right off the drop of the puck, it’s hard for people not to follow that.…
While there was action throughout the game, the scoring started at the midway point of the second and pretty much ended when the second period was over. Halfway through the second period Jaden Schwartz found Tarasenko on the left wing and put a perfectly placed shot past Jonathan Quick to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later with the Kings pinned in their own zone, Schwartz found himself alone on Quick’s doorstep and he cleaned up a Brayden Schenn rebound to go up 2-0.
The Kings answered back when Alec Martinez fed Tanner Pearson for a breakaway where he deked past Jake Allen to cut the lead in half.
L.A’s momentum ended minutes later as they found themselves stuck in their own zone again, where Carl Gunnarson let a shot go from the point that miraculously found its way into the back of the net to regain the two goal advantage. L.A. challenged the goal citing that Kyle Brodziak interfered with Quick’s stick, but the powers that be let the goal stand.
Less than a minute later, the Kings struck back on the power play when Dustin Brown deflected a Drew Doughty shot to bring the Kings back within one.
Early in the third period, Doughty thought he tied the game as he had a wide open cage to shoot on, but he essentially shot the puck right at a diving Allen to keep the game 3-2.
Despite pressure from the Kings, the Blues were able to put the game away with a Vladimir Sobotka empty net goal.
“Kind of a sour note to go home on, but to be honest with you I thought the guys played hard tonight,… said coach John Stevens. “I really felt the guys dug in and played hard tonight and we’ll learn from this game and continue to get better.…
This game was viewed as a measuring stick as it was the first game against St. Louis this season and both teams having strong starts to their seasons. With the loss, the Kings now have material to work with to strengthen their game for their coming home stand where they play nine of their next 11 games at the Staples Center.
“The thing I’d take away from this game that you’re happy and excited about is that on the road you get down at the end of a trip and guys keep digging in and getting back,… explained Stevens. “We got within a goal and got down two, got within a goal and had great chances to tie the hockey game.…
“I think there’s a lot of resilience in this group and they don’t get discouraged easily. If we continue to show up and play like that as a group then we’ll get back on the winning track."
Next up for the Kings they return home to have a rematch with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. The Leafs have lost three in a row, including a 3-2 decision against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. As well, the Maple Leafs will be on the back leg of a back-to-back as they also play the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.