Hours after the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals entertained fans in the 2015 Winter Classic the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Los Angeles Kings. The Canucks came into the game winners of three of four while the Kings had lost five straight on the road and had won only four road games thus far this season.
The Canucks used goals from Alexandre Burrows and Radim Vrbata to create a 2-0 lead on just nine shots on goal.
Through two periods, the Kings outshot Vancouver 30-10.
Dwight King got the Kings on the board at 14:39 of the second when he beat Ryan Miller on a second chance shot from the low slot.
The Kings’ defense continued its work through regulation allowing only six shots in the third period.
Miller stopped 37 in the loss while Jonathan Quick made 14 saves on the night for the win.
“We got out to a lead but we sat back all game,” said Vancouver forward Brad Richardson, who played his 500th NHL game against his former team. “They pretty much had control of that game for the most part. In the end you still should have that win.”
It was not until late in the third that the Lings finally solved Miller. Justin Williams evened things up at two all on a power play goal with 2:07 remaining in regulation. Then, just 53 seconds later Jarret Stoll beat Miller again for the 3-2 lead and final.
“We gritted it out and sometimes at the end of the game you look and say ‘all right, that was justice’ because I feel we dominated the game,” said Williams. “We had the better opportunities and we were able to show some resiliency, some resolve and not give up.”
Stoll seemingly had all night to set up the puck before a Vancouver player came over to the left side to screen the goal.
“It was nice to get the two points and not give them any,” Stoll said after scoring his first goal in 13 games. “It’s a good rivalry.”
The Kings now find themselves in second place in the Pacific Division.
“I’m sure they’re frustrated,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “But that’s how the division is. It’s so close. It comes down to a big play, a bad goal or something almost every night.”
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