Kings Get Best Of Ducks

And a big win, too. Last night's game might have been their best of the season, effort-wise and result-wise. The timing of it all was perfect and fitting, and it resulted in the Kings getting two very important points in the standings. I suppose the best part of it all was that it happened against the Schmucks, and it happened on their home ice in Anaheim.

The thing that stood out to me more than anything was the play of goalie Jon Quick, who was very impressive in net last night. The little skirmish he had with Scott Niedermayer in third period showed how much Quick has matured as an NHL goal-stopper. As he went back behind the net to play the puck, Niedermayer came in and ran him over. Instead of rolling over and letting him get away with it, Quick went after Niedermayer enough to the point he drew a roughing call from Niedermayer. On the ensuing power play, a 5-on-3, the Kings got what would prove to be the game winning goal. Quick was smart enough to back off after getting one little punch in, mainly because there were enough players who got involved and in between him and Niedermayer. That led to the Kings 5-on-3 that would be the turning point in the game.

For once, the Kings played 60 minutes of solid hockey, and not just 40, or 35, or 30, or whatever. If they play like they did last night, with a little more sense of urgency in them, they should be in good shape for a playoff spot. If anything, last night's win got them two big points in the standings, and kept them right in the thick of the race. If they do get in as a 7 or 8 seed, the rest of the conference better be careful not to overlook this team because it is capable of being a very dangerous team you don't want to face in a seven-game series.

But we'll save that for when they get to that point. In the meantime, nice win, and another big division rival game tonight in San Jose.

Tough Loss Last Night

This little blurb that led off this mornings "Wake-Up Call" on the L.A. Times' Fabulous Forum blog pretty much says it all...

First things first: If the Kings could find a way to play the first period the way they play the third, imagine where they would be now. Last night's game, which they lost 7-6 in a shootout, is a case in point. They played horribly in the first and magnificently in the third, eventually coming back from a 6-3 deficit to tie the score with only a few seconds left. Now consider the games in which they came out sluggish, scrambled back late but lost in the end. Add this: They've lost 7 of 10 shootouts; imagine if that were reversed. Put this all together and their record might be 35-18-2 (or something close to that) instead of 24-22-9. And that would put them in the playoffs. If only the Kings could think -- and play as if -- every period is the third.

Now, if only the Kings would follow this advice, things would be A-OK!

Kings Lose Game, But Get A Point

So much for the four game winning streak. The Kings lost their second in a row today, 3-2 at Staples to Edmonton, in a shootout, which means they still managed a very important point in the standings. The game was very physical, and it showed early on. In the first period there were several squirmishes; the Oilers led 2-0 after one period. Kings got one in the second, and then Dustin Brown tapped in the equalizer on a shot from Alex Frolov with about 26 seconds left in the game.

These are very important games for the Kings, who are still fighting for a playoff spot in the West. Their defense continues to be a strong point for them, and they did get a goal today from a defenseman, Drew Doughty, who recorded his fourth of the season. The goaltending has been solid for most of the season, thanks in large part to the solid defense in front of them, but the Kings have got to win these close games, especially at home.

Another Road Win

The Kings continue to roll as they picked up their fourth straight win tonight in New York, defeating the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout. The Kings finished the just-concluded road trip 4-1. Jack Johnson scored the game-winner in the last round of the shootout to give the Kings two more very important points in the standings. The Kings got goals from Wayne Simmonds, Anze Kopitar and Alex Frolov, with his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. The Kings currently have 55 points, and are tied for 11th in conference, two points behind the eighth and final playoff spot, three point back of seventh, and four points back of 5th place, currently held by Dallas and Anaheim.

Next up for the Kings: a three-game homestand starting Thursday night with Calgary. Edmonton (Saturday) and Atlanta (Monday) follow.

Kings Rock Jersey

Great win by the Kings tonight Jersey, as they scored three second period goals for a 3-1 victory. Great defensive effort and a solid performance in net by Jon Quick. And more importantly, two huge points in the standings in a hotly contested Western Conference. Kings continue to inch back upwards, and now have 53 points, tied with three other teams for 10th in the conference, just two points out of the eighth spot.

Jarret Stoll, Anze Kopitar and Patrick O'Sullivan got the goals for the Kings, with O'Sully's coming unassisted. Kings take their three game win streak into NY for a matchup with the Islanders Tuesday on Long Island before heading home.

Kings in DC

Nice win by the Kings tonight in DC. I didn't get to see much of the game since the Lakers took priority tonight in Boston, but what I did see of it was a solid game plan to attack early.

Caps scored first before Anze Kopitar netted the equalizer mid-way through the first. The game was tied as the second stanza started and two quick Kings goals (one by Kopitar, one by Micahal Handzus) gave them a two goal lead. The Caps would get a quickie back before the Kings would add another in the 13 minute mark of the second. Alex Ovechkin would tally his 37th goal mid-way through the final period before Kyle Calder would give them a two goal lead again with about a minute and a half left. That would prove to be the game winner with the final score of 5-4.

The Kings have been playing solid hockey most of the season despite battling three teams at the bottom of the conference. However, with so much parity at the bottom end of the conference standings, and the teams closely bundled up, the Kings are not out of the playoff chase. The true test will most certainly come in March and April, when they finish the season with 12 of 16 on the road. In any case, we'll deal with that when it comes. In the meantime, the Kings climb over the .500 mark with a 22-21-7 record, good for 51 points, a tie for 12th in the conference but just three points back of the eighth and final playoff spot, with a date in Jersey Saturday afternoon/evening against the Devils. Game time is 4 PM PT.