Ouch.
That stings.
Call it bad luck, call it breakdowns, call it all of the above. The Kings blew a two goal lead with approximately two minutes left in regulation against a reeling Flames team that was on the verge of losing their ninth straight. However, a young man by the name of Johnny Gaudreau took the game by the scruff of its neck and helped the Flames pick off a win at Staples Center.
The Kings played a fairly solid all-around game for about 50 minutes last night, until they started having to deflect more and more pressure from the desperate Flames. Even up 3-1 the Kings looked to be gripping the stick late in the third as the young Flames ramped up the pressure.
In the end it came down to some of the same little things that have hurt the Kings all year so far: Breakdowns.
Simple breakdowns.
That is both comforting and frustrating at the same time. Yea the tying goal that bounced off Doughty's skate was a bit of bad fortune, but that cutting pass from Dennis Wideman to Gaudreau exposed a flat footed Kings defensive unit.
The end result was bad luck, but the build up was a team on their heels.
Same could be said for the 2-3 goal. Doughty steps up near the blue line, no one rotates down low to cover. Boom Gaudreau gets free behind the net with a step on his Dman.
And the OT winner. Carter gets beat wide, no one protects the middle.
Simple. Breakdowns.
With control of the game, at home no less, everything seemed to be in control. Hockey can change on a dime though, and the Flames certainly willed themselves to that victory while the Kings let some defensive fundamentals slip. A solid game was unraveled in the waning seconds and the Kings will certainly feel like they lost a for sure extra point in a tight Western Conference. So it goes. That Johnny Gaudreau is a heck of a player though, no question. All 5'9" of him. Giordano likewise is having an extremely good year, and added to it with that nice OT winner.
On the positive side, that sniper Trevor Lewis did it again. He has now tied his career-high of six goals.
Marian Gaborik extended his points streak to five games and now has seven goals in that span.
Jamie McBain was also on the score sheet for the second game in a row, as he converted on the power play after a really solid 'pass and move' play. McBain exploited the space he was given and was rewarded. I think that's what they call good hockey sense, but that's such a fluid definition these days.
Disappointing way to finish up before the holiday break, as the Kings are now off until Saturday the 27th when they take on the San Jose Sharks. They will then get a rematch with the Flames in their barn on the 29th.