Kings' win streak snapped ahead of big matchup with Ducks
The weather forecast might call for mid-70s and sunny, but rest assured, there is a storm brewing in Anaheim.
If you haven't been following along, it's been a pretty busy week in Southern California hockey. The Ducks have a new winger, the Kings a new defenseman. An Eastern Conference power came around and was promptly toppled by both teams ... then an Eastern also-ran shut them both out.
One team slumping, and with 83 points, trying to maintain its comfortable cushion atop the Pacific Division; the other streaking (until Thursday's loss), but still with only 70 points, trying to hang on to a playoff position.
It puts both teams on a collision course that leads right to what is arguably the most anticipated Freeway Faceoff series game of the season, Friday night at the Honda Center.
"I don't think we played our best game," Kings' forward Tyler Toffoli said after their 1-0 loss the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night at Staples Center. "I thought we kind of lacked in a couple things and we've got to regroup and be ready to play against a big team tomorrow."
The Kings registered 35 shots on goal against goaltender Andrew Hammond. They dominated the possession game and finished their checks, but after an apparent power play goal by Justin Williams was taken off the board in the second period, the Kings' play steadily declined.
Andrej Sekera brings consistency to Kings' defensive group
Coach Darryl Sutter lamented the team's puck movement, especially by the defensemen. Lucky for him, he'll get a new puck-moving d-man in acquisition Andrej Sekera to play with in Friday's game.
"I thought our defense was really slow in the first period moving pucks, and in the second we passed the puck to them," he said. "Probably should have been 2-1 for them after the second and in the third there, we just couldn't hit the goal."
Hammond, Ottawa's 27-year-old rookie goalie, worked his second-straight shutout in only his fifth career game, putting an end to the Kings' eight-game win streak. Somewhat of a late bloomer, Hammond played in the minors for a few years before a standout career at Bowling Green State in Ohio.
There's not much of a book on him, but allowing five goals in his first five NHL games and pitching road shutouts on back-to-back nights indicates that he may have a future in this business.
"At the end of the day, we just couldn't find a way to beat their goalie," Kings winger Dwight King said. "Tonight we had our fair share of looks; their goalie was up to the task. We just have to find ways to get the rebounds. Tonight that was probably the big thing, there were quite a few kicking around and we couldn't get them in."
Hammond's performance and his overall numbers looked almost Playoff John Gibson-esque. For those that don't remember, Gibson became the face of the Western Conference semifinals last season when he shut the Kings out in his first career playoff start and won his first two decisions.
But the moment proved to be too big for a rookie when the Kings scored four against him in Game 7, ultimately eliminating their freeway foes. Gibson hasn't faced the Kings since, but after Thursday's practice, coach Bruce Boudreau indicated that he would be the guy, as No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen is still experiencing lingering effects of a neck injury.
It's yet another element that adds to the allure of what promises to be a clash in Orange County.
"It's a division game, and I think from here on out, every game is important," Williams said. "We're above water on the top eight right now but keep (losing) and you're going to go down real quick."
