Game 26: Canucks 4, Kings 1

Less than 24 hours after their win over Edmonton, the Kings travelled more than 700 miles through Canada to face off against a healthy Vancouver squad. On Thanksgiving. Myself? I had to travel 26 miles north to West Covina to work. On Thanksgiving.

As I was sitting at my desk, waiting for the turkey dinner we were getting from the company, I came across the news that the Kings had signed their first round pick, Brayden Schenn to a one-day contract to fill the hole left by the injured Andrei Loktionov. Needless to say, I blurted it out to the desk, a little surprised that he got the call.

I flipped over to NHL.com, and there was a huge image with the words "A New Schenn-sation." I was as excited as a kid on Christmas morning, being able to see (well, actually listen) to the highly-touted rookie's first NHL game. If NHL.com makes the story the lead item, it must be a big deal, right?

Here's where having a seasoned reporter embedded on the tea, is a good idea. Rich Hammond quickly had quotes from Dean Lombardi and Terry Murray, and nabbed an interview with Brayden, all before he stepped on the ice.

"Last night after the game, I was kind of visiting with some people and my agent told me that there was a possibility of me going to Vancouver and playing with the Kings," said Schenn. "I was pretty excited."

Lombardi sounded really high on the kid. "In the way he plays the game, there’s a little bit of Ryan Smyth in him," said Deano. He showed that he could make some high-end plays. He showed how good he could be in traffic and in critical situations, with puck protection, going to the net. He showed you some toughness. He can play any way you want to play him at this stage.”

Terry Murray instantly inked him on the line with Brown and Parse. “We’re going to play Schenn a lot of minutes here tonight," said Murray. "I’m going to put him in a situation where he’s going to play with a couple veteran players, and let him play.”

Schenn played decent, but the Kings did not. Wayne Simmonds scored for L.A., and was the only King to light the lamp for L.A. on this mini-road trip. Jonathon Quick had some tremendous saves, but just couldn't get any help from the defense. And Brayden's first game as a King was a solid "meh." Then again, he really only skated with L.A. at full strength. He did lose the faceoff that resulted in Henrik Sedin's goal in the third, though I don't think you can fault him for that.

Schenn is going to be a great player, but he's simply too young and inexperienced for the NHL just yet. Oscar Moller, who I thought would get the call, was over 2,500 miles away with the Manchester Monarchs. Schenn was only 600 miles away, playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings against the Swift Current Broncos in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Schenn was simply closer. The Kings basically saw what they saw in training camp, that he's going to be a good player. But just not ready for the NHL.

As for the rest of the club, they played a decent second quarter, but ran into a hot goaltender in Robert Luongo. he halted a streaking Parse, as he left the penalty box and tried to deke around Luongo. Purcell almost got his game rolling, but was stopped in his tracks by No. 1. In the words of one Canucks fan, he was "god-like." And quite frankly, what else needs to be said?

• AP: Henrik Sedin sets up Canucks' victory over Kings

    Quick kept Vancouver from doubling its lead with a couple of great saves before the period ended, including a a larcenous glove stop to take an empty net away from Ryan Kesler during a power play.

• Canadian Press: Henrik Sedin remains hot; leads Canucks past Kings

    With the Canucks clinging to a 1-0 lead in the middle period, Luongo - who has allowed just six goals in his last four outings - reached back with his glove to rob the Kings' Teddy Purcell of what seemed to be a sure goal.

• LAKings.com: Thanksgiving game spoiled

    Over the first nine minutes of the game, there were nine faceoffs, and the Canucks won all of them. Two Vancouver faceoff wins led directly to goals, and that played a big part in the Canucks' 4-1 victory over the Kings before 18,810 at GM Place.

• NHL.com:  Canucks get three in third to beat Kings 4-1

    "Two faceoff goals against," said Kings coach Terry Murray, whose team won just 25 of 66 draws. "It ended up being the part of the game that cost us."

• LAKings.com:  Schenn ready for NHL debut

    Schenn's status as a junior player is not impacted by this signing. After tonight's game, he can return to his junior team. If he signs an entry-level contract, Schenn could stay with the Kings for up to nine games.

They said it

    “No, there’s no production. There’s certainly opportunities, and that’s a bit of a concern for me. Again, those situations that I’m seeing Teddy in here tonight, that’s his M.O. He ususally jumps on those scoring opportunities. I’m going to have to take a look at it. I’ll talk with our staff and take a look at it myself and think about it. We have a day to get back and get reorganized and get ready for the next game.” –  Terry Murray, on the lack of first-line production in Purcell’s first two games.

    “Faceoffs are really important, especially on the special teams. They’re definitely huge. The percentage wasn’t good for us. They’re a good team, but it’s one thing to win it clean, but the other thing is just to battle hard and be there for each other.” – Anze Kopitar on the faceoff struggles.

Across the Kingdom

• MayorsManor: I'm thankful for

    The Stanley Cup - of course the Cup! It is without a doubt the single best trophy in all of sports. Seriously, you get to keep it for a whole day. What could be better? It also comes with it's own superstitions too - don't touch it if you haven't won it. Don't look it straight in the eye. But, best of all, your name gets engraved on it forever. Someday people, someday, there will be a Cup celebration in Los Angeles. There has to be, right?

• LAKingsInsider: Schenn staying in Canada

      In case there was any question, Dean Lombardi said Brayden Schenn will not be joining the Kings in Los Angeles and will be returning to his junior team. Schenn is not under contract and it seems as though the Kings aren’t ready to sign him yet.

• LAKingsNews.com: Luongo and Canucks outmatch Kings

    If I had 3 wishes, my first would be world peace.  My second would be the health of my family for the rest of their lives.  My third would be the Kings winning the Stanley Cup.  Yes, I love this team that much.  I have loved them since I was 10 years old and do today at nearly 40.  And it is because I love them that I can say this with all sincerity. I wish they were better coached.

• LetsGoKings.com: GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ Vancouver Canucks

•TooCool: With the defeated body language of the Kings in the 3rd period, I'd saythe Kings wanted Wellwood to score more than the Nucks did.
• RinkRat: Kings looked like they ate too much turkey.
• vindogla: You all fly to EDM win a game and then fly to VAN and try and win another one. On Thanksgiving. With a bunch of rookies. This would be considered a good road trip.
• JerTheAraluan: Honestly,Quick played his heart out today. Anybody pinning it on him can go f***themselves. This team and faceoffs. The power play. The utter lack ofability to box players out of their slot. This game reminded me verymuch of last year. Quick making ginormous saves only to be done in byrebounds. ZERO cross-ice passing on the pp.

From across the aisle, the Vancouver viewpoint

• Vancouver Sun: Vancouver Canucks outplay tired L.A. Kings

    Los Angeles easily could have more goals in the second. Teddy Purcell forced Luongo to make a terrific glove save at the 2:42 mark after he skated in alone following a Daniel Sedin turnover in his own end. Purcell deked to his forehand but Luongo grabbed the puck just before it crossed the goal line.

• Nucks Misconduct: Canucks 4, Kings 1

    Well geez looky here: Kyle Wellwood and Alexandre Burrows broke out of their slumps against a "tired and weary" Kings team tonight, scoring a goal and an assist each. A great statement game for the Canucks, who played their game well minus a few hiccups. Even then, Roberto Luongo was glorious tonight.

• HFBoards.com: GDT: Canucks vs Kings

• Jesus Quintana: Luongo won the game for the Canucks - and that's the way it'll have tobe for them to have any real measure of success. He was back in his god-like form last night.
• VanEric: Kopitar wasn't much of a factor last game against Vancouver or three of the four last season either. He scored one goal and it was that fluke goal from a bad angle on Lui.
• Lard_Lad: I like Simmonds. 14 points now this year. Pretty good for a guy taken 28 picks after Taylor Ellington.

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