Game 78: Ducks 2, Kings 1 (shootout)

There's nothing redeeming about Saturday night's game. Sure, Jonathan Quick played well, Jack Johnson scored a power play goal, and the Kings played a solid first period.

But, for the first time all season, the Kings allowed a goal after leading going into the third period. It was juts a matter of time, considering they were outshot, 12-5, in the period.

It was certainly not the way many Kings fans anticipated after the 8-3 beatdown of Vancouver. Instead of continuing to charge onto the playoffs, the Kings were derailed, at least for a day.

The Hammer says that the Kings could clinch the playoffs with a Calgary loss in regulation. And while I'll be rooting for the Blackhawks to take down the Flames, I can't stop but feel a little disappointed.

Disappointed that the Kings couldn't maintain the intensity of the last two games. Just how much momentum was lost remains to be seen, since the Kings play Anaheim in their next game Tuesday.

Instead of being in the driver's seat, the Kings were along for the ride Saturday. Let's hope that they rectify that and head into the playoffs with some more drive. Otherwise, they'll be four and done.

• AP: Ducks beat Kings 2-1 in shootout

The Kings lost for the first time this season when leading after two periods (29-0-1). They had won 32 straight under those circumstances since April 4, 2009, when they lost 2-1 at Phoenix.

• LA Times: Ducks rally for 2-1 shootout victory over Kings

"It was a big point, but it would have been nice to get two points at the end of the day," said Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, who played well in making 32 stops in regulation and overtime and seemed sharper after a two-game rest to get himself refreshed and his technique refocused.

• LA Kings: Kings Koivu'ed

Otherwise, there weren’t many highlights for the Kings. Their passing was often sloppy and they generated few strong scoring chances for most of the first two periods. That was a bit surprising, given that the Kings were coming off Thursday’s eight-goal game.

They said it

"We got one point out of it too, which is a little something to put toward our total. We definitely need to have a better start and throw a little emotion and desperation into our game.” – Anze Kopitar, on the game.

“I think it was a good game in general. Being able to get a point out of it is good. Every point we can get now means we are inching closer to clinching that playoff spot. We wanted two here, and gave it away in the last minute, but it is good to at least get that one point." – Jonathan Quick, on the game.

"We were trying to do too much. We have to elevate the tempo. We have to tighten things up and give ourselves closer support. We know how to play. It’s not hard to understand. It’s just that the young guys need to buy into it completely for us to be successful in the playoffs.” – Terry Murray, on the message to the team.

Around the Kingdom

• The Royal Half: Miss Pelt

The Los Angeles Kings had no business only leading this game by 1 goal with 1:30 left in the 3rd period. So walking away with just one point is fine by me. The Ducks were all over the Kings most of the night and Jon Quick did a great job proving that he still deserves to be the Kings #1 goaltender. 

• LA Kings News: Kings give the game away

To lose the perfect record of undefeated when leading after two periods to the Ducks stings. The fact they will be watching us on television in the playoffs is not a sufficient consolation.

• Mayor's Manor:  Negative Nancy Night at Staples Center 

Giving away points is one of the cardinal sins of hockey... The Kings have become quite the masters of this little trick throughout the season. Yet, if you want to subscribe to the "you have to learn to lose before you can win" theory, perhaps last night was critical in the development of a young team. You hear coaches lecturing all the time "It's a 60 minute game"...and the Kings need to remember that come playoff time.

• ESPNLosAngeles' Tom Murray: Game was hard to watch, harder to play

The good news for the Kings is that Quick played really well, stopping 32 of 33 shots, and looking as if he might very well make a late first-period goal by Jack Johnson stand up as the game winner. The Ducks spent most of the game lurking around Quick's net, muscling into the crease, trying to jam pucks under him. Quick was terrific, moving well from post to post and also seeming to see the pucks that were coming at him from the point. 

• Jewels From the Crown: Stare of death; Ducks 2, Kings 1

Sadly, the highlight of the entire game was Raitis Ivanans and Sheldon Brookbank squaring off. It didn't look like anything was going to happen with Ivanans giving the Stare of Death but they finally started throwing the punches after someone lost the staring contest. 

From across the aisle, the Anaheim viewpoint

• Orange County Register: Koivu's winner keep Ducks in play a bit longer

"It's an exciting spot to be in. Especially when they didn't score at all," Koivu said. "I had a chance to put the game away and luckily I got the goal."

• Orange County Register Ducks Blog: Koivu’s heroics carrying Ducks

Now they have something to play for next week, with games against the Kings, Dallas, St. Louis and Edmonton closing out the regular season.

• Anaheim Calling: Daniel Still Believes

If the Ducks are done for the season, then there's no reason to take a chance on Hiller's back, look at the shape Lupul is in. McElhinney has played very well, and deserves a little face time to permanently straighten out his game.

• Inside Hockey's Brian Kennedy: Ducks dead? Not Just Yet...

But against the Kings, McElhinney showed good form.  He played through another overtime and shootout, stopping twenty-four of twenty-five shots in regulation and twenty-eight total.  The lone goal that he allowed was on the Kings’ power play, and the puck was tipped by a defenseman to rise up and over the goalie’s shoulder with a screen (Frolov) in front.

Peeping the dailies