170-Word Recap
One night ago the Calgary Flames embarrassed the Kings 7-2. Tonight, Jack Campbell would not allow lightning to strike again in the Arizona desert as he made 49 saves and Trevor Lewis scored the game-winning goal 3:29 into the third period as the Kings won 3-1. By doing so, the Los Angeles severely damaged Arizona’s slim playoff chances. The Coyotes must win their final two games and have the Avalanche lose its last two in order to have a shot to get in.
Kyle Clifford tallied a Gordie Howe Hat Trick and Drew Doughty added an empty-netter with 44.4 seconds left. The Kings who lifted their record to 30-41-9) had dropped three of four.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 16 shots before he was inadvertently struck in the face when Lewis was pushed from behind as he scored and his stick found its way through Kuemper’s cage. Kuemper—who did not return—was making his 23rd straight start. He went 227 minutes, 15 seconds without allowing an even-strength goal before Clifford scored.
The Game 80 Highlights
(if you want Coyotes stuff, go to their recap)
Jack Campbell: Like a Wall
Kyle Clifford with the rare 2/5/10 penalty for defending Alec Martinez:
.@JimFox19: Now I think they’re kinda tiring ou-@13KCliffy: 🥊🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/nv2dmKtyAv
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) April 3, 2019
Coyotes 1. Kings 1.
:00.2 from Prolific Goal Scorer Kyle Clifford
Kings 2. Coyotes 1.
Trevor Lewis with the goal and Clifford completes his Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Kings 3. Coyotes 1.
Drew Doughty with the dagger!
FINAL: Kings 3. Coyotes 1. Jack Campbell with the win!
.@1JackCampbell + @AMartinez_27 = ❤️#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lRMcJe6IxL
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 3, 2019
Coach’s Corner: What Willie Desjardins Did Wrong Tonight: Sitting Jonny Brodzinski again.
Games Until the Kings are Eligible for a New Head Coach: 2
Games Since Tyler Toffoli Scored Against an NHL Goaltender: 25
Next: The Anaheim Ducks host the season’s final Freeway Faceoff on Friday at the Honda Center.
Quotables
“There weren’t a lot of second opportunities because we did such a great job in front of the net.”
– @1JackCampbell after recording 49 saves in tonight’s win pic.twitter.com/N3Db7zp3KW— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 3, 2019
“It’s just fun to win, really.”
– @13KCliffy after recording a Gordie Howe Hat Trick pic.twitter.com/OAtvpdtcjU— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 3, 2019
Tributes:
“Who would’ve thought you would’ve made it to 1,000 games? Who would’ve thought you’d have made it to the NHL at first?” – @AnzeKopitar‘s mom on her son reaching 1,000 NHL gameshttps://t.co/ar6427NaFX
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 2, 2019
Signings:
NCHC First Team All-Star and Huskies second-leading scorer Blake Lizotte has signed an entry-level deal with the LA Kings and will report directly to the team.https://t.co/eGo1DLYEYZ
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 2, 2019
#LoseForHughes Sweepstakes:
Kings now guaranteed to have the 2nd to the 4th most pingpong balls…