End of first period
Ducks 2, Kings 0
Are these the same teams from yesterday? The Ducks are playing like a team that's desperate to avoid getting on a transcontinental flight with two losses, and the Kings look like they would rather be somewhere else.
The Ducks are skating strong and smart and the Kings couldn't generate anything in the offensive zone. They finally showed some interest in getting to the net in the final four minutes, but by that point they trailed 2-0. The Ducks' goalie, Jonas Hiller, is making his NHL debut, yet the Kings were able to do very little to make him uncomfortable.
The bad penalties didn't hurt the Kings yesterday, but they did in the first period today because the Ducks have some jump and they're active around the net. Both goals came from close range. LaBarbera overplayed the puck on the first goal and the second-goal was just a scrum in front and the Kings couldn't clear the zone.
Lots of positives if you're the Ducks, almost none if you're the Kings. The 2006-07 penalty kill returned in that period.
The Ducks outshot the Kings 9-6. Chris Kunitz had three shots. The Ducks were credited with 16 hits to the Kings' seven, and that should tell you a lot...
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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.
The Kings aren't responding to the physical play at all, and it's very frustrating. The Ducks finish every single one of their checks, and the Kings turn away half the time and let the passer get off scot-free.
Crawford's line combinations are pathetic.
Frolov has absolutely no chemistry with Calder on the third line.
Zeiler has ZERO offensive skills and all he's done is slow down Nagy & Handzus.
And it blows my mind away that Sully has been demoted to the 4th line with Thornton. He was clearly one of the better skaters last night. That's really gonna help his confidence.
Does anyone agree?
The 2nd period ought to be very interesting. This is our first real test. I expect cammy, brown, frolov, and kopitar to come out strong... to do what crawford talked about and take responsibility for winning. I think LaBarbara will stay in goal.