Los Angeles Kings end two game skid with 3-1 win over Tampa Bay Lightning - NHL Update
Los Angeles Kings bounced back in style from a two game skid beating Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 on Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
The Kings who are on a six game road trip had lost their first two games with defeats to St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes. This time however, their offence clicked at just the right moment and goaltender Jonathan Quick’s brilliant performance in front
of the net gave them a well deserved victory.
Los Angeles consolidated their position in the playoff spots with the win as they lie seventh in the Western Conference with a 26-18-10 record and 62 points, four points above the eighth placed Minnesota Wild.
Quick’s 24 saves during the game kept the Tampa Bay Lightning’s surging offence at bay as goals from Anze Kopitar, Kyle Clifford and Dustin Penner secured the win.
"Usually when we do get three we're pretty safe with (Quick) back there, obviously," Kopitar said. "He kept us in the game in the first period. That's all you want from your goaltender."
Tampa Bay started off the game well and out shot Los Angeles 25-20 but could not convert their chances into goals as only Steven Stamkos who scored his 35th goal of the season made the most of his opportunity to beat Jonathan Quick.
The Lightning have now lost two of its last three games with a 23-24-5 record and remain ten points behind the eighth placed Ottawa Senators.
The game started off with both teams going on the offence early. The Kings took the lead at 2:47 as Anze Kopitar scored off a deflection to beat Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson.
Tampa Bay then started to probe for an opening and outshot the Kings 10-6 in the opening period however, Quick made some good stops to keep his sides lead intact.
Los Angeles could not maintain their lead for long and at 7:49 in the second period Tampa Bay equalised. Centre, Steven Stamkos, who is having a wonderful season, got on the scoreboard once again. Teddy Purcell set up the 22-year-old forward with a brilliant
pass and Stamkos finished with aplomb with a low shot to beat Quick.
Three minutes later the Kings regained the lead through Kyle Clifford. Rob Scuderi sent a long pass towards the forward who made no mistake to score a brilliant goal.
Seven minutes later Dustin Penner secured the win with the Kings third goal.
The win could not have come at a better time and with the Kings offence firing once more, the victory will provide a big boost of confidence over the next three away games.
The Kings take on the Florida Panthers on Thursday, February 9th while the Tampa Bay Lightning will face another tough test against Eastern Conference leaders New York Rangers.
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