So yes, there was a NHL game played in Shanghai after all.
There was no fog, some fans, and a lot of fouls, as Vancouver was given 12 power plays in a 5-2 Los Angeles victory.
"It just kind of kills the game a little bit," a visibly frustrated Jonathan Quick observed about the wealth of whistles. "There’s no flow, no rhythm to the game."
I went into this contest wanting to concentrate on some of the Kings who were on the roster bubble, such as Jonny Brodzinski, Adrian Kempe, Oscar Fantenberg, and Christian Folin. But it was difficult to do with so little 5v5 play.
Regardless, here are some thoughts:
In some respects, Folin is fairly mobile skater for his 6'3" frame. When defending, his ranginess is respectable. But when carrying the puck, his turns appear slow and studied. This makes him an easier forechecking target and a less-than-ideal fit for high-leverage defensive situations. Between he, Fantenberg, Kurtis MacDermid, and Kevin Gravel, there's an interesting if unexciting battle for #7 defenseman.
The lack of hesitation on Doughty's part (and other LA defenders) to join the rush throughout the night was striking. Such aggressiveness will certainly yield more chances for the goal-starved Kings, while leaving them open to reprisal:
I don't mean to be hard on Kempe, who had a solid bounceback game after a pre-season debut which saw him take four minors in two periods. The Swedish speedster was an active, mostly disciplined forechecker, who also blasted home the league's first-ever goal in China.
***
As we mosey along to Beijing, here are some sights and sounds from three unforgettable days in Shanghai. I'll have more on the Kings in China on LAKings.com and NBC Asian America soon.
9/19/17
Welcome to China @nhl pic.twitter.com/1RHxCKcgeo
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Sedins in Shanghai #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/5cscgvCwGH
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Horror movie or hockey practice...or both? pic.twitter.com/uLCGpNguBl
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Quick with the kids #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/irVwhp3EfE
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Kopitar and Clifford take the podium #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/OWRFQfdeb0
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Chinese names for Kings and Canucks players #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/hcGgFDtEzf
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
1st day skating drills, led by @DarylEvans15 #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/e6hSoWtt0T
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Derek Armstrong is having a good time #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/j37rZAAbGa
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Luc & @BaileyLAKings scrimmaging #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/uPYiIlmdUR
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Luc Robitaille: Still Scoring #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/fY6nVw3uYx
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Sights from the 1st day #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/cRj7EXteWa
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 19, 2017
Not bad. Shanghai. pic.twitter.com/ld2YCkSAaS
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) September 20, 2017
9/20/17
Fog-free fun #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/Y4HFmJBvti
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
Fog a-rollin' in & dehumidifiers that they've brought in for #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/L7K6AMsunq
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
What's best thing @amartinez_27 has eaten so far at #NHLChinaGames? Soup dumplings. He said, "I easily could've had 20 more." #xiaolongbao
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
Kings Insider: China Games debuts on @FoxSportsWest on October 7th. It’s gonna be zhÄ“n bà ng! pic.twitter.com/9mGIQV2mOq
— Jack A. Wilson (@JACKaWILSON) September 20, 2017
Trevor Linden on NHL's commitment to China: "Just showing up & playing world's fastest game...it's got to be more than that." #NHLChinaGames
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
David Proper, NHL EVP Media/International Strategy, confirms NHL to play 6 times in China over 8 yrs + talks working w/ KHL #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/zMI6Ldwsbn
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
#NHLChinaGames @adriankempe & @BoHorvat take on @CanucksFIN & @BaileyLAKings in shootout challenge last night pic.twitter.com/JXcZQnV541
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
#NHLChinaGames @adriankempe & @BoHorvat take on @CanucksFIN & @BaileyLAKings in shootout challenge last night pic.twitter.com/JXcZQnV541
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 20, 2017
9/21/17
Stecher says Gudbranson is Vancouver locker room's resident foodie #NHLChinaGames
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
Yum, bugs. 🛠A little bedtime snack for you, Shanghai style. #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/N56EX2DA9Z
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 21, 2017
Arriving in style, @Guddy44 edition. #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/x5pJlxjveW
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 21, 2017
Warm-ups #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/nI1Zqhvbsd
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
Just your typical pre-game rules demonstration #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/m5oiXPJQoV
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
#LAKings starters announced in bilingual fashion: Quick, Forbort-Doughty, Brodzinski-Kopitar-Brown #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/Hkp34HZorZ
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
Lower bowls fairly full, but whole sections in upper levels almost empty #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/ew41hTlKDz
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
Things the crowd likes at #NHLChinaGames:
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
1) Vancouver
2) Quick's saves
3) The wave
This is LA in China #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/w3QH0DYbTK
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) September 21, 2017
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