Kings News

Thursday, March 12, 2009

What A Finish!

I didn't get a chance to react here after the Kings pulled off another dramatic win at home last week against Dallas, but all I gotta say about that game was, "Wow!"

This is the second time in as many seasons that the Kings have pulled off an amazing rally against the Stars. Last season, you might recall a game in November at Staples where the Kings were down 4-0 with just over seven minutes left in the game against Dallas, and then ran off five goals on six shots to take the lead. Dallas would eventually tie it to send the game to OT, where the
Kings would eventually win that game, 6-5.

Well last Thursday night, the Kings faced a similar predicament, and trailed Dallas 4-2 at Staples with just over three minutes left in the game. Michal Handzus would score to make it 4-3. Dallas committed three bad penalties late in the game, including a bone-headed one by Stars' net-minder Marty Turco. Handzus's second goal of the night came on a two-man advantage. But with just 14 ticks left on the clock, Anze Kopitar took a shot from just inside the right wing blue line, kind of a "hail mary" type shot that deflected off a Dallas defender, and scored to tie the game. The Kings would eventually win it about a minute and a half into OT on a Handzus wrap-around that just got by Turco as he slid back across the crease to try and stop the puck. Handzus' shot just got in between Turco's skate and the post for his third of the night... a hat trick!

And from there, the Kings have been on a roll again. They've won their last three games (including the Dallas win) and are just four points back of the final playoff spot in the West with 67 points. Obviously, with 16 games left, things are still iffy as the odds are against the Kings. As they stand now in 13th place in the conference, they have to leapfrog five teams just to get to the 8th spot, and they play the bulk of their remaining schedule on the road.

Either way, should be a fun ride down to the finish line!

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