As with every game, you take the good with the bad, so time to take a look at the pluses and the minuses in the game against the Canucks for the LA Kings.
+ Korpisalo Nets Shutout
Not counting the postseason, Joonas Korpisalo picked up his first shutout since December 16, 2019 and his first in a Kings’ sweater. The Los Angeles netminder was really solid all night, but especially in that first period when the Kings were still looking to find their footing. Korpisalo made two huge saves on Brock Boeser, one from each wing, with the second coming just before the first-period horn. It was good to see him bounce back after giving up five goals in his previous start against Vegas.
– First Powerplay
What the heck was that? The Kings couldn’t get set up in the offensive zone until there was already less than a minute left on the powerplay. From there, they cycled the puck around, without ever registering a shot on goal. That would be Los Angeles’ only powerplay on the evening.
+ Physical Second-Period
It’s rare to see two fights in the same period, but the Kings used both to swing the momentum in their favor. The first was brought to life after Sean Durzi took exception to Sheldon Dries’ hit on Blake Lizotte.
Durzi immediately dropped the gloves and had one of the better tilts we’ve seen. The Kings’ defenseman was assessed an extra two minutes for instigating, but after LA killed off the penalty, their offense cashed in on Arthur Kaliyev’s 13th goal of the season. Later in the period, Adrian Kempe and J.T. Miller dropped the gloves off the faceoff. It didn’t provide the same fireworks that the Durzi/Dries fight had, but Los Angeles seemed like the more fired up of the two teams after.
+ Mikey Anderson Returns
In what has felt like Groundhog Day since Mikey Anderson left with an injury in the Oilers game, the Kings were recalling defensemen on an emergency basis like crazy. However, Anderson returned to the lineup on Monday night, paired in his usual spot alongside Drew Doughty.
The 23-year-old finished with 23:52 TOI (second-most on the team), +1, two hits, one blocked shot, 65.22 CF%, and 78.18 xGF%. That’ll play.
– Kraken Win
The Kings’ three-game skid came at a terrible time of the season, sitting just percentage points of the Seattle Kraken, with the latter having a game in hand. The Kraken kept pace with Los Angeles on Monday, topping the Coyotes 4-1. Dave Hakstol’s squad travel to Vegas for a showdown with the Golden Knights on Tuesday, so LA will surely be watching that one on their off day.
If Los Angeles finishes as a Wild Card team, they’ll get the Colorado Avalanche. If they grab the No. 3 seed, the Kings will have a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers. Which matchup do you prefer?
+ Vladislav Gavrikov
Gavrikov sniped home a goal early in the third period off a patient play deep in the attacking zone by Trevor Moore, his sixth marker of the season, setting a new single season career-high. The Russian blueliner now has goals in two of his last three games and extended his point streak into a career-long three games. Added, only Drew Doughty has more points among Kings defensemen than Gavrikov since his Kings debut on March 2.
+ Home Ice Advantage
With the win on Monday, the Kings tied a franchise record for most home wins in a season (26). Anze Kopitar acknowledged the home crowd for their support after Monday’s home finale. Only Carolina (27), Tampa Bay (27), Toronto (27), and Boston (33) have more home wins than the Kings, mind you, all Eastern Conference teams. For reference, when the Kings won in 2012 and 2014, they had 22 and 23 wins on home ice, respectively.
The Kings will wrap up their regular season on Thursday in Anaheim.