LA definitely didn’t make it easy for themselves tonight. San Jose started out the game falling back too deep into their zone. The Kings defensemen for the first 16 minutes peppered San Jose constantly with shots, and had a 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Martinez, off of some nifty work moving the puck up ice by Kopitar, and Brown.
Demers scored on a seemingly harmless play to tie the game up, but the real change in momentum would come from a 5 minute boarding penalty with 54 seconds left in the first. The Kings would kill the next 2 penalties (Drew Doughty would take a penalty 47 seconds after the Kings killed off the Clifford penalty), and the Kings scored a power play goal of their own by Jarret Stoll.
Dustin Brown would give the Kings a reason to feel good with a 3-1 lead until another penalty (on Quick of all people) took away what seemed like destiny as Thornton made it 3-2.
The 3rd ended up a shootout at the OK Corral as Clowe tied the game, and both sides traded 2 power play goals apiece to end regulation. Pavelski finally put the Kings out of their misery in the shootout.
We can try to ask ourselves how the Kings lost the handle on a seemingly perfect start, but we go right back at them again on Saturday. I am happy they got a point, and they clinched a playoff spot, but it always seems bitter sweet whenever they achieve something, and the good news doesn’t seem to fill the void of blowing a point in the standings.