Game 64: Kings 5, Stars 4 (shootout)

So, what shall we call this one? The Royal Resurgance? The Royal Retort?

How about the Fluke On Figueroa? Wow, what a buzzkill, I know. But the Kings were outplayed by the Stars for 55 minutes, only to find themselves the beneficiaries of a Dallas meltdown of epic proportions.

Let's face it, if the team couldn't convert on 10 power play opportunities Thursday night, we'd be hearing the cries to tank the rest of the season to improve the team's draft status. And they had a two-man advantage for an eternity, and could only muster up one goal. But the way they kept battling back reminds fans that this club is far from throwing in the towel.

How about we call the game: Just What Kings Fans Needed? A day removed from fan favorite Patrick O'Sullivan being shipped off on Trade Deadline Day, the population of the Kingdom were all doom and gloom. By coming back against the hated Stars, many fans, myself included, pumped our fists in a collective "Hell Yeah!"

Now, the Kings are 5 points out of 8th and play three of the next 5 games at home. But those games are against playoff-bound Western Conference teams Minnesota, Vancouver, San Jose and Nashville. Then, they head out for a brutal five-game road trip through Boston, Pittsburgh and and Chicago.

I don't want the season to be over. It can't end like this, whimpering out in March. If they can stay in contention until the five-game roadie, there's a chance they will get a look at Justin Williams. And then, we might just be cooking with Crisco. This team has exceeded everyone's expectations, why not stick it to all the naysayers who claim the O'Sullivan trade was the backbreaker. And yes, that's what I said earlier today.

Enjoy this win. It snaps a four-game losing streak, it washes away the bad taste of the trade deadline. But most importantly, it shows the team has a pulse, albiet a faint one. When was the last time you could say that about the Kings this late in the season?

• AP: Handzus scores hat trick, Kings defeat Stars in OT

"We needed the two points, and we were scrambling," Handzus said. "It wasn't the best game that we've played, but we won. That's the most important thing right now."

• LATimes.com: Kings put on a show for new teammate

Williams, the Kings' only deadline-day trade acquisition, was greeted at the airport by assistant general manager Ron Hextall. He was greeted at Staples Center by team doctors and an X-ray machine, and he's scheduled to see a hand specialist today.

• LAKings.com: Notes from the press box

"I’ve said many times this year that the power play can win you games and the penalty kill can lose you games.  This was the perfect example.  The first three power plays we had in the first period were critical and I was nervous about that; nothing happened on them.  Our penalty killing was pretty good, we had a big kill in the third period and then the power play came alive and it ended up winning the game."

• Yahoo: Team report

Thursday’s game continued a season-long Kings-Stars trend. All four games between the teams this season have been decided by one goal. The Kings beat the Stars 3-2 in a shootout on Nov. 11 at Staples Center, then beat them 3-2 two nights later in Dallas. On Jan. 17, the Stars beat the visiting Kings 3-2 in a shootout.

They said it

“We want to keep this attitude and give ourselves an opportunity to make the playoffs. It’s still within our grasp and I think we’re going to determine our own outcome in that by how we’re going to play, but this keeps it going, keeps it alive.”—Kings coach Terry Murray.

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• The Royal Half: Well, Sh*t.

I can't believe I missed a Michal Handzus hat trick. All hail the Justin Williams Era Los Angeles Kings!

• Purple Crushed Velvet: Kings 5, Stars 4 (OT)

Kopitar may not be scoring as many goals this season compared to last year but he's definitely netting the clutch goals. How many game tying goals in the waning seconds does he have this season? I think I can count three within the past month. Kopi is such a stud.

• Examiner.com: Come from behind win comes ‘Justin’ the nick of time for Kings

The win puts the Kings just five points out of the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and Handzus talked about the importance of getting two points in this game.

• Bleacher Report: Michal Handzus With The Hat Trick

He isn't going to score 30 goals a year, and he's not going to be in the top ten for points.  But what he does bring is strong two way play, and a great ability in the face off circle.  In fact you have to go back to December 23 of 2000 to find his last hat trick.  He was playing for St. Louis at the time and it came against Anaheim.

From across the aisle, the Dallas view

• Dallas Morning News: Kings of pain

 "They got some bounces at the end, but we brought it all on ourselves," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "It’s a very disappointing loss."

• StarsBlog: Is this on Turco?

Turco can become an unrestricted free agent after next season. Do you try to tie him up to a contract extension before then, or do you ride this out and possibly lose him in the summer of 2010?

• Five For Fighting: Tra' Jekyll-Hyde Top 5

Not that the race would've been less tight, but with two points the Stars would've been No. 8 in the Western Conference. Think one point doesn't make much of a difference? Will we say that a month from now?

• Defending Big D: Kings 5, Stars 4 (OT)

But the bottom line is with the game still firmly in Dallas' control, the Stars unraveled. More to the point, Marty Turco became unraveled with the slashes and repeated punches to the back of Anze Kopitar's head with the Stars already shorthanded on a 4-on-3. Turco finally got nailed by the referee in the corner, LA scores to make it 4-3 on the two man advantage, and then Fistric throws in an extra an unnecessary shove on Dustin Brown to put the Stars back down two men.

Peeping the dailies



Here's Kingan28's video recap, set to California Love. Well done!