Game 51: Kings 3, Devils 1

O.K., now I'm getting excited. So excited, that I'm including some musical entertainment with this post! Click here and continue reading.

After the Kings impressive win over the Capitals, the top team in the Southeast, the Boys in Purple went and punked the top team in the Atlantic. Probably the most impressive one-two punch I've seen since I punched that kid in junior high who made fun of me for wearing a jock strap. I swear, my Dad told me all the guys wear them...

At any rate, the Kings are starting to make a believer out of everyone in the league. The guys on the Jersey telecast were falling over themselves complimenting the Kings, which is such a nice change of pace. Usually, when the Kings win, the announcers chalk it up to the home team playing like crap. Now we're getting a lot of comments like "This team is loaded offensively," and "this team has an impressive future ahead of it." It takes the sting from the past two seasons' poor showing on the ice.

The Kings now have a consistent pair of scoring lines: the CBS Line of Calder, Brown and Stoll; and the and the O'Fropitar Line. Patrick O'Sullivan was the number one star of the game, mostly for his penalty shot that silenced the New Jersey crowd. It had been the first penalty shot the Kings had converted since 2006. The play of Drew Drewiske has been awesome: he was given some time of the PK, and blocked two shots in his 14 minutes on the ice, Brown registered four more hits, and is third in the league in hits, Doughty continues to log the ice time like a vet and Quick continues to be Murray's go-to guy in the net.

Mostly, the Kings out-Deviled the Devils. Said Terry Murray: "Transition game is a lesson I think I learned from the New Jersey Devils over the last 15 years. They're one of the best transition teams in the game. ... With three skilled players (Kopitar, O'Sullivan and Alex Frolov) entering the offensive zone, and they made a good play. Maybe we got a little bit lucky with that pass in the air but it was a big goal."

The Kings are now two games above .500, the first time this season, and they are showing signs of being serious contenders for the postseason. But I'm not so quick to drink the Kool-Aid just yet. We as Kings fans have been fooled so many times before. But the signs are there: consistant scoring, solid goaltending and  a healthy squad. And if things continue to unfold the way they are, then the Game Watch party I'm planning on Sat. March 1 against Chicago is going to rock.

• AP: O’Sullivan scores on penalty shot, Kings win

    “We’re a young group of guys and it’s been a learning experience at times this year,” O’Sullivan said. “Since Christmas, we have really picked up our game. We have to keep trying to push forward and make the playoffs. That’s our goal.”

• Royal road report: Sully seals it

    Walking into the Los Angeles Kings locker room Saturday night, you were greeted by the sounds of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and players singing along to it. At first listen, it sounded like 20 men crooning in varying degrees of off keyness, as if in their own private karaoke contest.
    In an 82-game season, there are wins and then there are wins. The Kings victory Thursday night in Washington and Saturday night's 3-1 triumph over the Devils at The Prudential Center, fall into the latter category..

• Yahoo: Team report

    Patrick O’Sullivan’s second-period penalty-shot goal was the Kings’ first successful penalty shot of the season. They were previously 0-for-2 and hadn’t scored on a penalty shot since Alexander Frolov beat Andrew Raycroft on Jan. 12, 2006. O’Sullivan had previously failed on a penalty shot on Dec. 6 against Columbus. The Kings are now 13-for-40 all-time on penalty shots.

• Bleacher report: Kings' Explosive Second Period Buries Devils

    Is there currently a hotter player on the Kings roster other than Stoll? Not likely. Stoll has recorded nine points in seven games and has a plus-minus rating of plus-four in those seven games as well.
    Stoll was the first to score for the Kings in their win over the Devils and was a very positive presence for the Kings all night. Stoll's hot streak, along with the strong play of the Kings youth the Kings might surprise some people and squeak into the playoffs.

• Bleacher Report: Denis Gauthier Talks While the L.A. Kings Smite the Devils

    Between breaks in the action, Gauthier spoke about the incident which has him off the ice for five games; how he thought the penalty was excessive, how the injured player put himself in a bad position that increased his chances of being hurt.
    How the injured player should have known who else is on the ice and take appropriate caution, how since the game was on Hockey Night In Canada and against the beloved Canadiens there was more outrage than would otherwise happen from one of his cheap shots...err...hard checks, and how the league had a few days to consider the situation before the next game the Kings played.

They said it

    “We’ve talked about playoffs since day one of the season. There’s not a single guy in our dressing room or our organization who believes that we don’t have a chance to get in. We’re playing very consistent hockey right now, and if we continue to do that, we’re going to give ourselves a chance every night, and that’s all we can ask for.”— Kings center Patrick O'Sullivan.

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• The Royal Half: Um, I think this is for real

    I know there is still a lot of hockey left. But this team is starting to feel like Edmonton Oilers of 2006. A team that hovers around .500 all season and then completely turns it on the last 2 months. I'm not saying the Kings have a chance to go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals like the Oilers did as an 8th seed... I'm just saying this is the most perfect time for a team to get hot.

• Crushed Purple Velvet: Third period scramble

    I suppose I should be glad that the Kings managed to win those games and that their play helped make the game very exciting, but I can only wonder how many games they could have won if they hadn't sat back on their heels and let the other team take it to them. If they make the playoffs, there's no way they'll make it out of the first round playing this way.

• A Queen Among Kings: What a road trip

    I think the biggest shock was when the Kings started out the first two shifts hustling their tails off in the offensive zone. I can't remember the last time where the Kings were in the opposition's zone to start off a game. They weren't in there for just one shift, but two!

• Frozen Royalty: Things Are Coming Together…For Now, Anyway

    One factor in the Kings’ recent success is that they have finally found their offensive game. Indeed, prior to the All-Star break, they were ranked dead last in the National Hockey League, averaging a measly 2.37 goals per game. But during this seven-game span, they are averaging 3.57 goals per game and in the five wins, they scored five goals three times and scored six at Colorado on January 21.

From the other side of the ice, the New Jersey view

• NJ.com: The morning after

    How did Scott Clemmensen play in goal?
    Stephenson: He played fine. He never saw the first goal, because he was screened, and the second goal was a nice play by Patrick O'Sullivan throwing the puck to the net and Anze Kopitar redirecting it. Can't fault him for that. And he certainly can't be faulted for getting beaten on a penalty shot.

• NJ.com: Mike Mottau disputes call that gave Kings penalty shot

    "It was under me. I fell down and didn't know where it was, myself," Mottau said. "And then when I found it, I was getting up and (swatted it away). My understanding of the rule is you have to have your hand over it and cover it."
    According to the NHL's rule 67.4, Section 9: "If a player, except a goalkeeper, while play is in progress, falls on the puck, holds the puck, picks up the puck, or gathers the puck into his body or hands from the ice in the goal crease area, the play shall be stopped immediately and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team."

• 2 Man Advantage: Thoughts from Section 209

    The team kinda threw their hands up and said OK WE LOSE… once the Zubrus goal was disallowed (how the hell do you distinctly kick a puck when you’re getting knocked on your ass??)

• In Lou We Trust: Bad Passing, Decisions Lead to Loss

    Credit the Kings, though.  They didn't waver under the pressure and worked hard.  How they controlled the second period and responded to the Devils' mistakes was excellent.  The result is fair for them.  As for the Devils, they need to start getting some of these wins at home.  I will say this, while the fans were disappointed after the game, most of them had this thought process.

• New York Daily News: Home groan as Kings crown Devs

    It is home, but lately the Rock has not been so sweet for the Devils. A lethargic second period resulted in a 3-1 loss to the Kings Saturday night in Newark, their second straight home defeat, and had Devils coach Brent Sutter seething afterward.

• Interchangeable Parts: Well, that sucked

Peeping the dailies