Los Angeles Kings beat Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in shootout - NHL Update
The Vancouver Canucks were again held from reaching the top of the Western Conference after losing 3-2 in a shootout with the Los Angeles Kings at the Rogers Arena.
The Canucks remain a single point behind conference leaders Detroit Red Wings with a 28-15-4 record and 60 points and have now lost two games straight to drop to second spot.
The Los Angeles Kings who entered on the back of a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Edmonton Oilers got a quick start in the game and even though they were pegged back the Kings looked the better team on the night as they outshot their Canadian opponents 41-33.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick continued his brilliant form in goal saving 31 shots while Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had an even rougher night as he was forced to make 39 saves to keep out the Kings.
"Sometimes that's going to happen and it's up to me to make some saves and try and keep the guys in it," Luongo said. "Obviously, we don't want to start our games like that, that goes without saying."
Los Angeles ran rings around Vancouver in the first period with Roberto Luongo called on time and time again to keep them out but eventually conceded the first goal. Dustin Penner beat Luongo at 9:06 to give the Kings a well deserved lead.
The goal would be the only one to be scored in the first period as the Kings were not able to improve on their lead with Luongo beating back attack after attack.
That failure would cost Los Angeles as early in the second period the Canucks equalised. At 2:41 Daniel Sedin took advantage of the power play to bring the Canucks back into the game. Sedin’s goal was assisted by Alexander Edler.
With the score tied at 1-1 the game went back and forth as both teams played aggressively with both goaltenders called on to make saves frequently. The Kings took the lead at 15:14 taking advantage of their own power play. Justin Williams put in Willie Mitchell’s
rebounded shot beyond Quick to give the Kings a 2-1 lead.
This was not to be the winning goal however as the Canucks rallied in the third period to equalise. David Booth who had just returned from a long term injury scored in the fifth minute to make it 2-2 and send the game to overtime.
A shootout was called to decide the game as both teams failed to score in overtime.
Justin Williams beat Luongo in the shootout to put the Kings 1-0 up but Alexander Burrows was on hand to equalise for the Canucks which left Mike Richards brilliant shootout attempt to decide the game.
"I've never seen that before," he said about Richards goal. "He came in quick, (then) he slowed down (and) snapped it high glove. It's a pretty good play."
The Canucks will now look to return to the summit of the Western Conference on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks while the Kings continue to face Canadian opposition as they welcome the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
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