They were not grossly outplayed, it was not an ugly overall game, but it was a loss nonetheless to a very good opponent.
The Hawks served the L.A. Kings their first loss in eight games Monday night by a score of 4-2. Despite the score being 4-2, the game was a tight back and forth affair all the way up until about the third period.
Here is a quick glance at the 5v5 shot attempts and scoring chances on the night. It really was a tightly contested battle between two pretty good teams.
One key element to the game was the match-up of the Hawks top two lines against that of Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli.
The line of Carter-Lucic-Toffoli saw a heavy dose of the Jonathan Toews and Artem Anisimov lines. In fact, Carter and Toffoli each faced a combined 16 minutes of even strength play against Toews and Kane. The Kings hottest line went without a goal or a point for the first time in seven games.
Another key moment was when the Kings failed to capitalize on a late powerplay opportunity granted to them by Hawks forward Ryan Garbutt with three and a half minutes to play. The Kings out of synch powerplay ended up giving up a shorthanded goal on a 2v1 breakdown entering the Hawks zone. It was the deathknell for the Kings.
Chicago won 37 faceoffs to the Kings 27 as well. Kopitar was an even 8-for-16, while Jeff Carter was absolutely mauled at the dot. He was 10-for-29, a cool 37% on the evening. This includes a 4-for-17 mark against Jonathan Toews, winning just two out of eight offensive zone draws. Put in simple terms, that is six potential offensive zone chances the Kings lost out on due to that match-up. Toews only took 27 faceoffs on the evening total, and 17 were against Carter. 14 of his 20 wins came against No. 77. Those are incredibly poor numbers for Carter, but also speaks to the outstanding faceoff ability of Jonathan Toews. His current win percentage now sits at 58.8% overall, which is one of the best in the league.
The net front presence was fairly strong for Los Angeles, but Crawford did well at holding onto rebounds and limiting second and third chances.
The game did gives us at least one moment to savor. A classic, angry, Jonathan Quick throwing his hat into the ring of the traditional Scottish sport, the Caber Toss.
When you just ain’t got no time pic.twitter.com/zbuDqHlIyQ
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 3, 2015The Kings have played very few games on the road thus far. Tonight was the first of a back to back against two very strong Central teams in Chicago and St. Louis. The more important thing here may not be the result against Chicago, but the result against the Blues tomorrow evening.
It was a tight battle that someone had to lose, and the Hawks got outstanding performances from key players like Toews, Kane, and Hjalmarsson. They also got solid contributions from the newcomers Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov. Teuvo Teravainen also had a very noticable game up front.
From a Kings perspective, the Carter line was completely shut down, while most other lines broke even in possession. Kopitar's goal was a good example of what the Kings top line can do if No. 11 is breaking into the zone with possession. Defensively the Kings did their best, but outlets were sloppy, and ideally you would want to see Martinez step up on Patrick Kane and take away space on the go-ahead goal. The Hawks came out flying from puck drop in the third though.
While overall it was a good, close game, that did not keep Darryl Sutter from making some potential points with a few players.
Sutter shortened his bench in third period. Forbort, Andreoff, Pearson sat most of period. Weal tomorrow?
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) November 3, 2015Do we see a different lineup tomorrow? Forbort, who was in for McBain (Absent due to the birth of a child) may stay in, but do we finally see some Jordan Weal? Weal has played just one game this season way back against Arizona on October 10th.
St. Louis are 8-2-1 to open the year and have won their last three games. They are also 4-0-1 at home this year and have one of the most dynamic young talents in the game in Vladimir Tarasenko.
It will not be easy, but if the Kings want to reclaim some supremacy in the Western Conference these may be games they need to get some points in. Will there be a bounceback tomorrow night?
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