Game 65: Kings 6, Blue Jackets 0

The Kings needed that.

They needed to be reminded that they have the skill to beat teams they are supposed to. And as sweet as the win was against Columbus, it wasn't that sweet. Again, this is a team the Kings are supposed to beat.

It was pretty impressive to see the team completely clamp down on the Jackets. Only five shots given up by L.A. is pretty dominating. I bet Quick could have played without a mask, and probably enjoy a hot dog and a Coke during some of those stretches.

The Kings' power play continues to get better, connecting three out of six times. When Rick Nash got a double minor for giving the high stick to Rob Scuderi, it opened the door for a two-fer. Michal Handzus and Alexander Frolov scored twice in less than a minute to effectively knock out the Blue Jackets. Although, it also could've been Wayne Simmonds goal, from Modin ans Scuderi to start the scoring. Or Drew Doughty's tally 8 minutes later, from Handzus and Frolov.

With his goal, Doughty is now tied for second in defenseman scoring. Over at ESPN.com, they have a "trophy tracker", which gives you a sneak peak at what to expect for the postseason awards. Right now, the leader for the Norris Trophy is Washington's Mike Green, who's 64 points and gaudy +32 in plus/minus some of the major factors for being in the "lead", if there is such a thing. Then again, last year's winner, Zdeno Chara, didn't lead in any of the categories. What does that mean? That's right, Drew Doughty has a definite shot to win the Norris this season.

Who woke up Alexander Frolov? With 8 points in his last four games, it looks like Fro is finally peaking at the right time. A streaking Frolov can only bode well for Los Angeles, and provide them with that important secondary scoring that turns them from pretender to contender.

On the surface, it looks Lombardi got more for his money with the Fredrik Modin acqusition than the Jeff Halpren trade. In his first three games with L.A., Modin has 2 goals and an assist. Halpren has yet to tally a point. The player that was traded for Halpren, Teddy Purcell, already a goal and two assists. (The goal came from an amazing penalty shot).

Overpayment? On the surface, perhaps. But then all of Halpren's contributions doesn't show up on the scorer's sheet. Things like faceoffs, blocked shots and the steady influence for the fourth line to spell the other lines. It's not flashy, but effective. 

So, the Kings won. Woo-hoo. Now a true test of the Kings' ability: a date with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Central Division leader and third-best team in the league. Which Kings team will show up?

• AP: Kings blank Blue Jackets 6-0

The Blue Jackets were outshot 26-5 through the first two periods while the Kings built their 6-0 lead and equaled a season high with their three power-play goals.

• LA Times: Fredrik Modin savors Kings' 6-0 win over Columbus

When the Kings acquired forward Fredrik Modin from Columbus last Wednesday for a conditional seventh-round pick in the June draft, they never specified the condition.  Here's the scoop: The Blue Jackets will get the pick if the Kings win the Stanley Cup but will get nothing if the Kings don't win Lord Stanley's trophy this season.

• LA Kings: Kings bury Blue Jackets

Two nights after a dismal loss to Montreal, the Kings took out their frustrations on the Blue Jackets in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score might indicate.

• NHL.com: Kings crush Blue Jackets in L.A.

Jonathan Quick was asked to make only 11 saves for the shutout, as the Blue Jackets mustered only five shots through the first two periods.  The fewest shots allowed by the Kings in a game is 10 against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 11, 1994.

They said it

“It feels really good on that line I’m playing on right now. Handzus is a great center, and able to find holes. Me and Simmer are just trying to get open and make some players, so it’s been working pretty good so far.” – Frederik Modin, on chemistry with his new teammates

“You always want to prove to people what you’re capable of, what you can do, and try to do the best you can. It’s probably the key for success for any athlete in any sport, actually. It’s your job when you step on the ice. Sometimes it’s not going well, but you have to try.” – Alexander Frolov, on whether he’s playing like he has something to prove.

“When you get into these kind of games, between periods, you’re talking to your team about maintaining focus, structure, good habits, doing the right things, all of the cliches that you want to keep pushing, to maintain that attitude going forward from this game. We know who the next opponent is. It’s going to be a real difficult game. It’s one of the best teams in the league and we’re going to have to make sure we’re doing all the right things.” – Terry Murray, on the negatives of a lopsided game

Around the Kingdom

• The Royal Half: Nick of Time

The other person to make a triumphant return to the Los Angeles Kings tonight was enigmatic Russian forward, Alexander Frolov. I don't know who put the steroids in his pelmeni, but Frolov has come out of the Olympic Break blazing not just with 8 points in 4 games... but also with a fire under his ass that hasn't been there all season, even after several attempts to light it.

• LA Kings News: Weighed, measured, owned!

Another dumb penalty led to another big powerplay. Fredrik Modin did something that we have come to expect from Kopitar, Brown, Simmonds, Stoll and every other Kings’ offensive threat this season. He took the puck and drove to the net. He was rewarded with a pretty back handed goal.

• The Throne Room: Will Kopitar score 40?

To call it a breakout season for Anze Kopitar would be a bit of an understatement. Most of us as Kings’ fans already knew that Kopi was one of the Western Conference - if not the NHL’s elite center-icemen. This season, Kopitar has showed up on the rest of the league’s radar for the first time.

• Jewels From the Crown: Time and Space

On the surface, I'm not sure which stat I'm happier with, the fact the Kings held Columbus to 11 shots or that the Kings were 64% in the face off circle. It's easy to love a winning team, and it's just as easy to get your heart broken by the same team when they falter. In watching their efforts explode back to normal, I'm looking forward to more happy days with the Kings.

From across the aisle, the Columbus viewpoint

• The Columbus Dispatch: Kings 6, Blue Jackets 0: It's over early

No, the outcome was delivered so quickly, so decisively, writers for Jay Leno could have penciled in Blue Jacket gags in time for his monologue. There was rich material to be mined from this odious performance.

• Puck-Rakers: Game No. 66

Quick was credited with 11 saves. He could have become the first goaltender to play without a mask since Andy Brown in 1974 and not suffered a scratch.

• Light the Lamp: So Bad it's Good!

I can tell you I didn't watch one second of it.  I had the DVR rolling and I had it tuned in on the bedroom TV but I was out cold the minute I hit the mattress - as was this team the minute they hit the ice.  I can also tell you that the game will be deleted from my DVR as soon as I can find the remote.

Peeping the dailies





Here's Heidi Androl interviewing the first star of the game, Alexander Frolov





And here's the Kings' post-game interviews