LOS ANGELES — The Kings reestablished their identity on Thursday night, outlasting the red-hot Vancouver Canucks for a 2-1 victory in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings showed no signs of the sluggishness they displayed in a 6-3 loss to Vegas on Tuesday, playing an effortful game that saw energy generated throughout their lineup as they earned a point for the sixth time in eight games.
Conversely, the Canucks – who had won seven consecutive games since Coach Bruce Boudreau took over – seemed a stride slow at times, having defeated the Ducks in overtime the previous night in Anaheim.
Winger Brendan Lemieux scored the regulation goal for the Kings, and wingers Adrian Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson cashed in during the shootout. Jonathan Quick made 17 saves in a bounceback win after being pulled on Tuesday. Phillip Danault played his first game since exiting the COVID-19 protocols, centering both the Kings’ second line and their first power-play unit.
Forward Bo Horvat scored a third-period equalizer for Vancouver and converted his shootout attempt, while backup goalie Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves in a game the Kings dominated by every quantifiable measure except the tight final score.
“I thought, frankly, their goalie kept them in it. We played a great game, all-around,” Lemieux said, adding that he felt the Kings could have won the game by “a few more” goals.
Kempe scored on the Kings’ first shootout attempt. Horvat extended the game by scoring as Vancouver’s third shooter. Arvidsson’s conversion put former Kings winger Tanner Pearson up against the wall, and he failed to score.
With a minute left in overtime, winger Alex Iafallo danced in on goal and nearly ended the game during the frenetic three-on-three action.
Midway through the extra frame, Horvat had a clean breakaway but was stoned by Quick, who had to make another alert save an instant later.
“Quickie’s been huge, not only tonight, since the beginning of the year he’s been stepping up for us,” Danault said.
With less than two minutes left in regulation, Kings captain Anze Kopitar dangled daringly over the middle, sending a dangerous backhand that Halak fought off to preserve the tie.
The Kings continued to apply defensive pressure and protect their net during a stoppage-laden third period while accumulating a 28-15 lead in shots on goal. But Arvidsson’s delay of game penalty opened the door for Vancouver.
During a chaotic power play, forward J.T. Miller lunged to his left in the faceoff circle to control the puck, which he whipped across the ice to Horvat, who had beaten Mikey Anderson to the back door for a redirection goal with 7:54 left. Miller’s primary assist extended his point streak to eight games.
“I was just trying to find open ice and get to the net when I saw J.T.,” Horvat said. “It was good to get that one and good to get a point, but we’ve got to be better in the future.”
A dogged forecheck aided the Kings’ cause throughout the game and also earned them the game’s opening goal.
Center Blake Lizotte hounded defenseman Quinn Hughes into retreating deep into his zone and leaving a hasty pass for his partner Luke Schenn. Lizotte then forced Schenn into a giveaway to defenseman Christian Wolanin, who promptly launched a shot that was tipped in by Lemieux 7:39 into the second period. Lemieux was also afforded a penalty shot in the third period, but he did not convert the opportunity.
“Lizzo and I try to make that a staple of our game, being a really aggressive fore-checking line, spending time in the D zone and making it really hard for them to break out,” Lemieux said. “From top to bottom, I think every line has their shifts and their pressure … and that’s why that game seemed like we had them on their heels for most of it.”
Early in the second period, the Kings’ fourth line buzzed with winger Carl Grundstrom creating havoc on the forecheck and then hitting the post with a shot. At the opposite end of the ice, Wolanin averted a probable goal by steering a point-blank shot wide. Moments later, Kempe hit the net twice off one rush, but the game remained scoreless.
“We didn’t play very good, and they were hungry,” said Boudreau, whose winning streak began with a 4-0 victory over the Kings in his debut in Vancouver on Dec. 6. “Our second period, it’s probably, I know, it’s as bad as I’ve seen us play. (We) hung in there, and our goalie was outstanding, and that’s why we got a point.”
The first period offered a brisk pace with only eight faceoffs, including the opening draw. There were just a dozen shots on goal combined for both teams. Vancouver out-shot the Kings 7-5 despite the Kings controlling more of the possession and generating 71% of the scoring chances in the period.
“That was awesome. I can’t remember the last time I played almost a full period with no whistles,” Danault said.
Shootout dubs>>>>>@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/Rtba5FSTQe
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
JONATHAN‼️@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/5K02GGg0SW
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
????LEMIEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUX????@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/AVKPYHTgBS
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
Brendan Lemieux speaks to the media on his big game tonight????@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/mvK9iiHHIr
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
“They’re like race horses. They want to run.”@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/u3ElcSA2IR
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
Can’t wait to see Viktor Arvidsson and the ???? back in 2022????@LAKings | #GoKingsGo | @CarrlynBathe pic.twitter.com/gYiAuTJz4M
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 31, 2021
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