LOS ANGELES – Three goals in three minutes was the difference in the Los Angeles Kings’ slugfest with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Trevor Lewis and Tanner Pearson each scored in the second period in a physical affair on the ice that felt more like a heavyweight fight than it did a hockey match.
Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for the Canes, but it was not enough to defeat the Stanley Cup champions and the Kings went on to win 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd at Staples Center.
Jaret Stoll scored his second goal of the season in the first period on a Kings power play. The Kings have been efficient on the power play on the home stand scoring 6 goals in their last 11 power play opportunities. The Kings have now scored a PP goal in their past three games, tying their longest streak of the season.
Eric Staal scored for the Canes who have now lost four of their last five games. With the goal, Staal has now surpassed the 700 point-mark for his career. Carolina has lost their last four games in Los Angeles, and the Kings have not lost to the Hurricanes on home ice since 2005.
Carolina’s Brad Malone and the Kings’ Brayden McNabb dropped gloves and fought in the first period. The two players exchanged blows for almost a minute before both players were escorted to the penalty box for five-minute majors.
The game was physical and chippy throughout as both teams committed ten penalties in the first two periods and could be seen pushing and shoving continuously while on the ice.
“We had a hard time handling their size and strength on the walls,” said Carolina head coach, Bill Peters about the physical style of play. “They wore us out in the d-zone. They were a heavy team in the offensive zone, and we spent too much time in there tonight.”
But the game came down to the first three minutes of the second period when a flurry of goals became the turning point in the game. Trevor Lewis got the action started with s his third goal of the season inside the crease. The goal was reviewed by the officials because it looked like Lewis kicked it in, but upon further review the goal counted.
“I felt like it hit my stick, then it took a while so it made me second guess,” said Lewis about his goal. “I felt either way it was a good goal.”
A minute later Staal answered for the Canes and seconds after that, Tanner Pearson scored his 8th goal of the season by knocking the puck out of midair and into the goal. That completed the offensive onslaught for the evening as both goalies locked up the net after that.
Jonathan Quick had 25 saves on 27 shots to earn his 10th victory of the season. Quick made an incredible save with: 34 seconds to go in the game to seal the victory for the Kings. Quick has not lost a game in regulation in his last seven starts. The Kings are now in third place in the Pacific division with 26 points through the quarter mark of the season.
“They’ve been playing well. When everybody’s as that 20 game mark, you take the first 10 or the last 10, and Carolina has a really good record their last 10. We were aware of that and we wanted to finish our twentieth game with a win, “ said LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter
The Kings now head on the road for three games before returning to Los Angeles on November 29th against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Game Notes:
Before the game, Kings defenseman, Slava Voynov who is suspended indefinitely by the NHL, formally had charges of felony domestic violence brought against him. His arraignment will be on December 1st.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
