LOS ANGELES – Through twenty minutes of play on Monday night the
Photo by Jack Lima
A win by the New Jersey Devils and the series gets tighter than wanted. A win by the Kings and they would be one win away from the Cup.
The opening period was a bit choppy and no real opportunity for any flow in the game. The Devils were throwing the body in an effort to establish some dominance. But the Kings were able to withstand the push.
A later period 5-on-3 advantage for the Devils was squandered when the Devils themselves took a penalty to cut the advantage short and give the Kings a reason to hope as they went to the dressing room.
Photo by Jack Lima
Asked what his impressions of the game were Kings head coach Darryl Sutter noted the penalty kill in the first period.
“Penalty killing. It was a huge factor. Obviously the five-on-three,” Sutter said. “Then three after that again. It’s hard to believe, actually, for a team that has drawn the most penalties so far in the playoffs and per game has taken the fewest. We’ve had a grand total of four in three games now.”
The turning point in the contest was the first goal of the game by Los Angeles. The Kings has pushed the puck deep and put it on net. The puck
Photo by Jack Lima
Alec Martinez had the last whack at the puck and dislodged it from beneath Brodeur’s glove and into the net for the 1-0 lead at 5:40 of the second period.
The Staples Center responded loudly but there remained a sense of anxiety.
Anze Kopitar added to the lead at 15:07 of the period and there was a sense of relief foer the fans.
“Yeah, I had the puck just in our zone and I saw Justin skating on the other side and I wanted to make sure I fired it across because he was in front of me. Then as the play developed, it was a three-on-three and I was able to beat my guy to the net,” Kopitar said of the goal. “Brownie (Dustin Brown) put it right on the tape for me. Didn’t want to waste any time. I just caught good wood on it, was able to put it in.”
Photo by Jack Lima
The lid came off the arena in the third when LA put the match away with a pair of power play goals. First Jeff Carter converted a tape-to-tape pass low to Brodeur’s right and over his shoulder.
Carter’s goal came at 4:15 of the third and was followed quickly by Justin Williams who followed his own rebound up and put the puck past Brodeur under his arm for the game clincher.
At that point the Los Angeles crowd was released from their anxiety and the celegration started.
Williams recognized the energy of the crowd in the match.
“I think it’s because of the beards we’re getting noticed a little bit more (laughter). Ever since I’ve been here, this place has been sold out. The fans are excited. I think they’re just as excited as we are,” Williams said. “This is a hockey town, but to make it a hockey town you have to win consistently. We want to instill something long-term here.”
Williams also echoed his coach’s noting of the special team’s efforts in the game.
Photo by Jack Lima
“I think we credit it to special teams, right from our goaltender out. You saw Matt Greene, Jarret Stoll, Willie Mitchell out there killing that five-on-three together. That pumps the bench up. That gets you excited when you see guys sacrificing like that. What can you say about Jonathan Quick, too? He’s been a rock this year, the whole playoffs. But I think special teams is the obvious key tonight.”
In the meantime, Jonathan Quick was spectacular in net in making 22 saves. The shutout was his third of the post season, a franchise record.
Ame four is Wednesday night at 5 PM Pacific from the Staples Center.
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