End of first period
Kings 1, Ducks 0
Other than a couple unwise penalties, there wasn't much to criticize about the Kings' game in that period.
A great first period for Bernier, who had to deal with the snafu with the lights and then faced some power-play pressure early in the game. He made six early saves, then pretty much could have taken a nap for the rest of the period. The Kings did a good job of preventing a lot of pressure from getting to him.
That was particularly the case on the penalty kill. It seemed more aggressive and there were a good number of blocked/deflected shots, so we'll see if that holds up and if the penalty kill is truly improved.
The Kings' top players seem to be in good form, particularly Visnovsky, Cammalleri and Kopitar. Handzus and Nagy have a definite chemistry together and Handzus isn't afraid to whip the puck across the ice if he knows his countryman is somewhere in the area.
Each team had seven shots in the period. Ryan Getzlaf had three for the Ducks. The Kings won 11 of 18 faceoffs.
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About Rich Hammond
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Very impressive period for the Kings. Handzus and Nagy are really hitting it off.
Keeping it simple but looking good thus far. Plenty of work for the PK & PP special teams. Keep it going boys!
Bernier looked very good. I see the calm, cool demeanor they talk about. He just doesn't seem to get rattled.
Also good to see Bernier handle the puck so well. That's been a sore point for Kings goalies in recent years.
Nagy & Handzus certainly do look good. Calder caught my eye a few times as well.
Camalleri is well, Camalleri.
Blake seemed to shy away from a couple of hits, but he certainly still has the slap shot.
Jack Johnson seemed a bit tentative to me. Didn't know if he should take the body or go for the puck, and therefore was caught out of position in his own zone a couple of times.
And O'Sullivan still isn't playing like he wants to be in the NHL. He's not skating. He's not keeping his head up. The one time you noticed him, he almost turned the puck over.
To be fair to Sully however, he did only have about 2 and a half minutes of ice time.
All in all, good start for the Kings!
GO KINGS GO!!!
I've got a name for this rivalry. How's "Hunting Season" sound?
Rob Blake working sanitation detal piak up the garbage for 2nd power play goal for Kings.
What can you expect from O'Sullivan. The poor is playing 2 1/2 minutes on the 4th line with Ivanans.
Briliant Crawford, try putting Cammy in that position. See how he performs.
Rob Blake working sanitation detal piak up the garbage for 2nd power play goal for Kings.
Anyone know of a "Crepe Hanger" so we can get it put up around Crow??