Matt Murray has been a Kings fan since the late '80s, when Wayne Gretzky grabbed headlines by defecting to the West Coast. Since then, he has been a card-carrying bandwagon member as the club soared in popularity with their sole Stanley Cup appearance to their position near the bottom of the Pacific. But things are looking brighter, as he is anxious to witness the rise of the new Kings.
Kings run wild on Minnesota
The Kings play host to the third division leader they've played this season, Minnesota. The Wild are the last unbeaten team in the league.
Patrick O'Sullivan gets the start tonight against the team that used to own his rights. He's still wearing the facemask, so his teeth must still be in. One surprise is Ladislav Nagy, who is a healthy scratch for tonight. Apparently Crawford wants to grab his attention, since he's tried everything to get him started.
Former King Eric Belanger also plays for the Wild, and he's gotten himself off to a very good start. Coming into the game, his plus/minus ration is at +7. It would be nice to have another guy like tha, since the Kings only have two players in the plus side, Jaroslav Modry and Scott Thornton. Michael Cammalleri has points in five of the first six games. It's good to see him fired up and taking more of a leadership role.
J.S. Aubin gets his first start as a King, but it's his 200th start. Jonathan Bernier was sent down Monday, and I would've thought Jason LaBarbera would get the nod, as Aubin was coming off the IR. But it's apparent that Lombardi and Crawford want to see Aubin in action, especially with a little rest.
Four minutes in, there are no shots for either team. It looks like both teams are going to play very tight, and try to force the other to misstep. Anze Kopitar registers the first shot, between the legs of Kim Johnsson, and catching Niklas Backstrom off-guard, hitting him in the shoulder.
But the Wild score first, when Marian Gaborik fires a shot from outside, and the rebound finds its way to another former King Pavol Demitra, who taps it in for his second of the season. And the crowd at Staples groans, not only because the Wild scored, but because it was Demitra. Pavol was traded to the Wild for Patrick O'Sullivan and the pick in the 2006 Draft that turned out to be Trevor Lewis.
Jack Johnson continues to improve each game, he's now using his skill to force the speed players to the outside, and not let them set up shop in front of the crease. It's only a matter of time before he connects for his first NHL goal.
With less than a minute to go in the period, Scott Thornton can now put his name in the G column of the stat sheet. He scored when Brian Willsie passes the puck between traffic, and Thornton pops it over Backstrom's shoulder for his first of the year. Another goal in the waning minute of the period for the Kings, something they have done several times before.
The Kings have doubled up the Wild on shots, 8-4. And they have out-muscled them, outhitting them 9-5. But Minnesota has 5 blocked shots, and the game remains knotted at one.
First period: Kings 1, Wild 1
Aubin tries to handle a puck dumped in by the Wild, but can't and leaves it for Tom Preissing, who turns it over to Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who makes a perfect pass to Mikko Koivu, who shoots it in for his second of the year. The defensive lapse cost the Kings yet again, unable to follow through in doing something as simple as controlling a dumped-in puck. And just like that, the Kings are down by a goal.
Cammalleri gets pulled down by Brent Burns, so the Kings get a power play. It took four PPs. but finally L.A. scored on the power play this game, when Brad Stuart wound up and shot through a double screen on net. Kyle Calder is able to redirect it with his stick, and he gets his first goal of the young season. Alexander Frolov is alos credited with an assist. And the Kings are tied once more.
Zeiler once again is showing signs of hustle out there; he draws a penalty and gets the Kings another PP opportunity.
Aubin just snaps a puck out of the air from Belanger. This being his first start, he has played well.
The Wild outshot the Kings, 17-7, but at least the game is tied. Also, the Kings are still not committed as many penalties as they have during that Boston game. For the second straight game, the Kings have committed only one penalty in each of the first two periods. Looks like they are playing more disciplined.
Second period: Kings 2, Wild 2
Early in the second, a funny thing happened. Johnson checked Johnsson. I've been waiting for that al night. Brown has a sweet move between his legs, and passing over to Cammalleri, who was a step short for a one-timer. Cammy had backstrom beat if he had connected. Kyle Calder gets whistled for tripping Mark Parrish, as the Kings go on the penalty kill.
Kopitar is out on the PK with Brown and tips the puck past Demitra, and skates toward Backstrom, with Brown in tow. Brown works his way toward the middle, drawing two Wild players off Kopitar. Anze flicks a wrist shot through Backstrom's pads to finally give the Kings the lead in the game. I wish Kopitar would shoot more, he's got such a nice shot. But, at the same time, I like to see him set the table for the other Kings. Nice all-around offensive game from the phenom from Slovenia.
But then the Wild come back, and Brian Rolston shoots from the outside to tie it up. This one rests solely on Aubin, who has faced over 20 shots in the game. There was no one in front, he had a clear view of Rolston, and just got beat.
The Kings and Wild are tied at the end of the game, and with an uneventful overtime, go go to a shootout.
Third period: Kings 3, Wild 3
Dustin Brown is first up, and beats Backstrom with a wrister for a goal.
Petteri Nummelin attempts a backhand against Aubin and scores.
Cammalleri goes second for L.A., and the league leader in goals wrists one past Backstrom for his own shootout goal.
Aubin comes up huge against Demitra and turns him away.
So the game rests on the 19-year-old Anze Kopitar. Anze skates in, and attempts to go to his right, but then fakes Backstrom out with a reaching backhand. The 6-foot-4 Kopitar is just able to direct the puck past a sprawling Backstrom pad into the net for the game winner. Kopitar is mobbed by his teammates, as the Kings break their five game losing streak in a shootout.
Rightfully so, Kopitar is the number one player of the game. His goal is not to be missed, so check out ESPN's coverage of his goal. Check it out in slo-mo, and you can see just how close it was. One of the sweetest shootout goals I've ever seen.
