Prior to this game, opponents scored far more third period goals against the Kings than the Kings did for their own cause. As a result, when little used Theodore got the start and held a shut out going into the third period, past history indicated this game would be like most others. In other words, nine game losing streak with no hope in sight. As the saying goes... that is why you play the games. Thankfully.
The first two periods possessed pretty mind numbing hockey. I kept listening to Bob Miller and Jim Fox explain how Los Angeles wanted this slow pace of a game. Somehow this way a good thing...huh?! I will leave that to others to debate how having an anemic 10 shots on goal through 2 periods where 3 of those shots came on a power play in the second was a good thing. By my count, 38 minutes 7 shots and in 2 minutes 3 shots isn’t getting it done. Did anyone else join me for a caffeine jolt prior to the 3rd, or at least hoped that a cattle prod was on hand to wake up the visitors in the final 20?
In fairness, there was a second period bout between Ivanans and McLeod where McLeod had no chance against, the newly medically cleared to fight, Ivanans. Five minutes in the box was not nearly enough to calm McLeod as there was serious jaw flapping upon their exits from the box near the end of the second. This resulted in matching minors for unsportsmanlike conduct and an extra 10 for McLeod. Advantage Kings.
The second period also presented challenges for the NHL’s 29th worst penalty killing unit where 2 minors were called against Brown first and Stuart second. In case anyone was wondering why Stuart looked so disgusted to be put in the box to replace Preissing, that would be due to the fact that O’Sullivan actually shot the puck over the glass rather than either defensemen. Since the referees got the right call, just the wrong guy, perhaps no harm done in the big scheme of things.
I must say the one penalty killer I enjoy watching most is Giuliano. He could teach a clinic to his teammates how to really kill time. He is the one, where on his better kills, keeps his feet moving, and equally solid, his stick moving eliminating passing lanes of the opponent. There was probably no one surprised more than Giuliano that when Manchester called, Zeiler took his seat on the trip down rather than him.
I will concede I have a soft spot for the league’s least heralded guys. Kostopoulus was my favorite player before he left for the Canadiens. My first game of live NHL Kings’ hockey since my relocation back to California was the pre-season game after the lockout. In all pre-season games that year, regardless of the score at the end of regulation, every game had a shoot-out to let each team get their first experience with this new tie-breaker. In the Kings’ first game then, Murray named Giuliano as a shooter and he scored.
That second in time stuck with me then and I was disappointed to see him sent down. Of course, this tenacious left winger got the call back in that year and played more than half the season with the big club. This diminutive forward can cause debate among Kings’ fans since offense is hardly his game at the professional level.
At some point, there needs to be more recognition by fans that defense first players are just as key to team wins as offensive stars. On this Saturday, no such leap of faith is required since Giuliano was a key guy in the third period offensive comeback of the Kings.
It is no secret that the Kings first line of Kopitar, Brown and/or Cammalleri or O’Sullivan carries this team’s offensive load. The difference between winning and losing Saturday proved to be secondary scoring. Armstrong’s wife is from Colorado and friends and family were on hand for him. It is thus only fitting that he scored with his loved ones in attendance with his third of the year and first goal in 9 games. Frolov made it possible with a first assist effort.
Right after sending the puck home, Armstrong’s celebratory efforts included him spotting his friends/family that nicely carried an “Army #7” sign, to which Armstrong hit the glass and pointed in their direction so they could share his joy.
A scant 1:17 later, the first lead of the game came on a face-off win by Thornton, a key move by Giuliano who sublet Gretzky’s behind the net office, changed directions quickly and with an even quicker release, passed cleanly to Thornton who put it home with his third goal of the year. This proved to be the game winner and also netted him the 1st Star of the Game.
This quick turnaround resulted in faster play from the visitors where through the first 7:30 of the third, had 5 shots on goal and the remainder of the period essentially peppered Theodore with 13 shots over the final period – essentially an avalanche of shots compared to the first two periods.
The Avalanche did not stop playing when the home team lost the lead. Rather, some frenzied play including a Ryan Smyth check on Johnson followed. A bad Kings’ line change was helped by Modry’s strong catch-up skating which prevented a scoring opportunity. Over the last 3 minutes, strong defensive efforts from Aubin, Giuliano who earned Nagy’s spot on the second line and two face-off wins by Kopitar enabled a victory and an empty netter by Kopitar to bring sanity back to a dour Kings’ locker room who desperately needed this win to save face.
The only thing more atypical than three third period Kings’ goals would have to be a road victory. Prior to Saturday, Los Angeles had a meager 4 road wins and 3 of those are in San Jose. Biggest advantage Kings.
Here is Armstrong’s take on the much needed victory:
“It felt good. We started out so slow. These afternoon games are tough. The guys battled hard tonight. This team is a high offensive team. I think we did a great job in our own zone tonight. Aubin kept us in early. Our D men came in and made some good first outlet passes great tonight to hit the guy in the middle. I think guys battled. It was a little sluggish game the beginning of the game. We found a way to win which is the most important thing.”
On friends and family in attendance:
“I didn’t really know where they were but they had a big “Army” sign that said “7”. So especially here for folks here at home, it is always nice to give them a treat like that, especially the win. Now I can go visit them after and be a lot more happier than when you lose. You go in there and you are so miserable. You go in, get a little smile on your face, and they paid their good earned money. I didn’t buy too many tickets but I got pals to come down. Say, it is nice to score, especially in the town where my wife is from.”
On slowing it down, taking care of things defensively:
“Yeah; that is the most important thing y’know. If you give up 3 or 4 goals, especially in this league, it is tough to win. That is where we concentrated – especially being in our end. Our D played great. That first out pass is so important at this level. You watch Detroit. You watch these Colorado teams. When you get in foot races with them, they are not a lot faster than you, but the puck movement is the most important thing. I think that especially as a young team, we got to learn not to beat guys. We got to learn to give them more give and goes and let the puck do the work you know. Everybody can skate at this level. It is just who makes that 1st and 2nd pass and the one on one battles. I think we did a much better job tonight at both blue lines.”
On Avalanche pulling of the goaltender:
“Kopi’s line, Kopi won 2 big draws there at the end. “Giuls” did a great job there with a minute 22 battled in the corner by the RV sign there. He did a great job. Like I said, it comes down to will. That is what we got to learn as a team. You got to learn that it is the little things that win, not going end to end and scoring goals. It is the battles at the blue line. It is the first pass. Once we start to learn that, we will take off.”
Check out the visitor’s article of the game:
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_7838269
Next up are the Blackhawks in a radio only game (grrrr). Remember Sunday’s last Hockey Chicks’ talkcast of the year at 9 EST/6 PST.
Carla Muller
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