A Rollercoaster ride of a game ended in a shootout loss for the Kings at Staples Center on Thursday night.
With less than 6 mins to play in a scoreless first period, the Kings gave up 2 goals in 51 seconds, and trailed the visiting Dallas Stars, 2-0 at the first intermission.
The teams swapped goals to start the second, before the Kings, Down 3-1, scored 2 more unanswered goals, and then scored at the 8:55 mark of the third, to take a 4-3 lead. That's when things began to get just a bit more interesting.
With just under 8 mins to play in the game, Brendan Morrow checked star center Anze Kopitar heavily into the boards. It was ruled a clean hit.
While Kopitar lay motionless, teammate Mike Richards came to the aid of his fallen comrade, and engaged Morrow, mano a mano.
While Morrow and Richards basically fought to a draw, the aftermath would prove detrimental to the home team.
Both players received 5 min majors for fighting.
Richards however, received an additional 2 mins for instigating, as well as 2 more mins for unsportsmanlike conduct, due to the fact that he instigating the fight while wearing a visor.
The Stars would score on the ensuing 4 mins of Power Play time, which tied the game at 4.
5 mins of scoreless OT play would then set the stage for shootout heroics from Loui Eriksson.
The officiating was tight in this one. As coach Darryl Sutter said during the postgame press conference, "2 veteran officials out there and they were calling . . . . . more than everything". Sutter also defended the actions of Richards (click here to view).
Though the team lost, there were quite a few positives :
Twice overcame a 2 goal deficit
Scored 3 power play goals
Jack Johnson finished with 3 points (1G,2A)
Anze Kopitar finished with 3 points (1G,2A)
Kings scored 4 goals for the second straight game (5-2 win over Capitals on Monday night)
Four different goal scorers
Good momentum going into upcoming 3 game/4 night road trip
Three Stars of the Game :
#1 - Jack Johnson (1G,2A)
#2 - Loui Eriksson (2Goals)
#3 - Anze Kopitar (1G,2A)
* Kopitar did not return to the game after being injured in third period. He was still being evaluated by medical staff at time of postgame press conference. He appeared to have possibly a broken nose. Should be available to play in upcoming road trip.
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