LA KINGS 101

  

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.
 

At this time last week, the Kings were building up what eventually became a six-game winning streak that vaulted them to the top of the Pacific Division standings.
 

Now, the Kings are on the outside looking in, one point out of the eighth spot after two straight losses, the latest to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night. One goal from center Manny Malhotra combined with 38 saves from goalie Roberto Luongo sent the Kings to a 1-0 loss to the Canucks at Rogers Arena.
 

The Kings missed out on a tremendous opportunity, as Dallas lost to Calgary 5-4. A Kings win would’ve put them back atop the Pacific Division. Instead, the San Jose Sharks now currently possess first place in the division thanks to their 5-1 win over Colorado.
The Canucks got ahead with 3:05 remaining in the first period. Maxim Lapierre sprinted past the neutral zone and fed a puck to Manny Malhotra at the left wing. Malhorta’s shot sailed past goalie Jonathan Quick, clanked off the far post and across the goal line for the first goal of the game. It was also Malhotra’s first goal in 15 games.
 

The Kings had numerous chances to tie the game. In the second period, Dustin Penner had a wrap-around blocked, but the puck danced around the crease and Jarret Stoll had a point-blank rebound attempt, but that was stopped by Luongo. Later in the period, Anze Kopitar sent a puck forward, the puck again stayed in front of the Canucks’ goal and Justin Williams had an attempt similar to the one Stoll had, but he missed the near post.
 

The Kings continued to ratchet up the attempts in the third period. The first good look came when Dustin Penner sent a puck towards front of the Canucks goal, Stoll got to the puck and had a golden chance, but Luongo made himself big enough to stop Stoll from getting a clear attempt. Another opportunity came when Dustin Brown found Kopitar cutting in from the middle, Kopitar took a dangerous shot on goal, but Luongo stopped the puck with his glove. Making matters worse for LA, Penner was called for goalie interference with 3:23 remaining in the game, and while the Kings did kill off the power play and eventually got the extra attacker on the ice, Los Angeles was unable to push the tying goal across.
 

The Kings will now spend the next four days in Alberta, starting with a Wednesday tilt against the Calgary Flames.

Tags: Hockey, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, NHL

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