Matt Murray has been a Kings fan since the late '80s, when Wayne Gretzky grabbed headlines by defecting to the West Coast. Since then, he has been a card-carrying bandwagon member as the club soared in popularity with their sole Stanley Cup appearance to their position near the bottom of the Pacific. But things are looking brighter, as he is anxious to witness the rise of the new Kings.
Kings still have pedal to the metal
Vesa Toskala is now in goal for Toronto, replacing Raycroft. Can you believe there were reports of Raycroft to L.A.? I don't believe in internet rumors, so it doesn't surprise me. He stunk up the joint, worse than the burned popcorn in the break room.
Ponikarovsky (Man, I love that name) sends Handzus into the boards and gets a penalty. LA. gets several chances, including Brown, who has two PP goals so far this game. But Toronto stands firm, and L.A. is denied.
Blake fires one from way downtown, putting the Kings up 5-0. The Kings have been cycling and circulating the puck, and one finally makes it through. It's Blake's fourth of the year, and his first in seven games.
The Leafs have a quick two-on-one, but they are shut down by LaBarbera. Although the Leafs have 9 shots so far, he's playing well. The defense is also blocking shots, so he doesn't have to stand on his head.
Kopitar is announced to the Staples Center as the sole representer of Los Angeles, and he is greeted by a warm round of applause. The kid deserves a trip, he's been the Kings best player this season.
The glass is shattered in the corner, as play stops. I've never really noticed that it takes 10 people to change on of those huge panes of glass. It takes a little time, because it's on the corner where the net is tethered to. Usually, the glass just has a straight crack in it. But it looks like the time I threw a hammer through my bedroom window, back in 1984. I wanted to try the Hammer Throw I had seen in the Olympics. Oops.
Guilano gets whistled for hooking, and the Leafs finally get on the board. Antropov beats LaBarbera for his 16th goal of the season. The Toronto crowd cheers much louder than the Kings, which sounds more like a sigh of relief than an actual celebration.
Johnson gets two for interfering with Sundin, and gives him a little shove after the veteran dove to the ice. I can't say I blame Johnson for being a little mad. Then Sundin draws Blake into the sin bin, giving Toronto a two-man advantage.
So Modry, Stuart and O'Sullivan are out there to stem the tide. LaBarbera has a sweet save, spreading wide to halt a Leaf scoring drive. He does it again, this time with his pads, kicking away a shot with authority. He then absorbs a cannon shot from the blueline.
The Kings kill the Johnson penalty, as LaBarbera is being called on to make some heady saves. Johnson, Visnovsky, Handzus and Calder kill the Blake penalty. And with 21 seconds left in the second, Ponikarovsky (I love that name!!) gets called for tripping. So the Kings will have the power play to start the third.
Second period: Kings 5, Maple Leafs 1
