Nashville Vs. Los Angeles Recap & Highlights: Muzzin’s Mistake Costs Kings As They Fall To Predators 2-1 [VIDEO]

LOS ANGELES – Sports are a game of bounces. One fortunate or unfortunate bounce here or there can be the difference between winning or losing. That was the case for the LA Kings on Saturday at Staples Center where a series of bounces defined the game if not the season.

With the score tied 1-1 late in the third period, Kings defenseman, Jake Muzzin got an unlucky bounce off his own stick that deflected over LA goalie Jonathan Quick, and into the net for an own goal, handing the Predators the 2-1 victory.

“It was a good bounce for us,” said Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette. “I give a lot of credit for everybody just staying focused really, and continuing to press. It was a solid win for us.”

The Kings should have walked away from the game with at least a point, but instead they left with another loss to the Western Conference leading Predators and find themselves on the outside looking in of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Jeff Carter got the Kings on the board first thanks to a lucky bounce of their own in the opening period. Defenseman Andrej Sekera’s shot ricocheted of Nashville defender Ryan Ellis and went right to Carter who knocked it into the back of the net for his 24^th goal of the season.

The Kings lone goal would stand for the next two periods until Predators center Craig Smith scored the equalizer with 13:23 remaining in third period after a save by Quick bounced to Smith who slipped it over the goalie’s stick and into the net.

“We did a good job tonight of getting in front of the goalie,” said Smith after the game. “It makes it tough on him and for the players around him to clear pucks. We were able to get a bounce, and some of those bounces we weren’t able to get in the last couple of games. This is a big win. They’re a really good team and that was a playoff type of game.”

Nick Shore took a penalty for the Kings after he used his hand to play the puck off of a faceoff. The proceeding power play led to the Predators goal.

“It happens three to four times a year,” said Kings head coach Darryl Sutter of the odd penalty. “Kids, it’s an instinct play for them, hopefully that’s an experience he’ll learn from.”

Seconds later, Muzzin scored an own goal for the Predators. Viktor Stalberg (who got credit for the goal) sent a pass to the front of the net intended for Calle Jarnkrok that was tipped into the net by Muzzin.

“We got sloppy with the puck,” said Kings forward Dwight King of the own goal.

Muzzin’s mistake turned out to be costly for the Kings who not only lost to Nashville for the third consecutive time, but it cost LA a crucial point as they slipped to ninth in the Western Conference standings.

“One was a power play goal that king of squirted through. The other one was Muzz [Jake Muzzin] who got the stick on it,” said Anze Kopitar about the two goals his team surrendered. “Obviously a tough break but we gave them too many chances off of our mistakes and our poor management of the puck.”

The low scoring affair was a far cry from the past meetings between these two teams. Coming into the night, the Predators and Kings had scored a combined 20 goals over a two-game span earlier in the season.

Pekka Rinne made 23 saves for the Predators and recorded his 200^th career victory in the process.

“I’ve played on really good teams with really good teammates and now I’ll go towards 300,” said Rinne about his accomplishment.

Nashville had struggled entering into the game as they had won only two of their previous nine games and were in a 0-21 power play slump before the night.

“You have to work hard to create some luck, and to create some lucky bounces,” continued Rinne. “They got their first goal off of a bounce. We tried to block the shot, it goes straight to Carter and he buries it. Then we got lucky with Stalberg’s goal and you need those.”

Quick’s scoreless streak of 118 minutes and 10 seconds ended with Smith’s goal, as did the Kings stretch of penalty kills. Before the goal, the Kings had killed 38 of their previous 39 penalties dating back to February 12^th. Quick stopped 21 shots for the Kings.

The Kings will face the Arizona Coyotes at home on Monday before travelling south on the 5 freeway on Wednesday to take on the NHL’s top team in the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have already beaten Los Angeles 3 out of 4 times this season, including a 4-2 defeat at the Pond two weeks ago.

Game Notes:
Jaret Stoll was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Anze Kopitar and his wife Ines welcomed a baby girl, Neza earlier in the day. Alec Martinez was seen on the ice during morning skate around, but did not play in the game. Martinez has been out since February 7th with a concussion.