GDT - LA Kings 10/11/05

[slapshot™]

The Los Angeles Kings shoot for their third straight win as they continue a five-game homestand against the unbeaten Edmonton Oilers.

Los Angeles grinded out a 2-1 victory over Minnesota on Sunday as Pavol Demitra scored the game-winner on a 40-foot wrist shot in overtime. The Kings' first three games have all been decided by one goal.

Mathieu Garon made 24 saves and registered his first win of the season thanks to Demitra, who beat a screened Manny Fernandez to the glove side for his second goal of the season.

The Kings were frustrated for most of the night due to Wild coach Jacques Lemaire's defensive style. With Minnesota concentrating on forechecking and protecting its zone, Los Angeles found it difficult to create offense.

"They have a hardworking team, play a strong defensive game and they're not going to open up too much at any time," Demitra said. "So you have to make the most of the chances you create against them."

Edmonton opened its two-game West Coast trip with a 4-2 victory at Anaheim on Monday. The Oilers won despite being without star left wing Ryan Smyth, who is not traveling with the team due to a sprained left knee suffered in Saturday's win over Vancouver.

Raffi Torres scored twice for the second straight game, including one of three power-play goals for Edmonton. His empty-net tally with 33 seconds left sealed the victory.

Smyth's absence opened the door for left wing Jani Rita to skate with the top line of Shawn Horcoff and Radek Dvorak for a few shifts. The 24-year-old, playing his 16th NHL game, did not register a point.

Backup goaltender Ty Conklin, who is 2-0 career against Los Angeles, is expected to get the start. Conklin was shaky in his season debut, allowing three goals on 17 shots in a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Wednesday.

STANDINGS (through Oct. 9): Oilers - 8 points, 1st place, Northwest Division. Kings - 9 points, 1st place, Pacific Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Oilers - Torres, 4 goals; Ales Hemsky, 4 assists; Horcoff, 5 points, Igor Ulanov, 8 PIM. Kings - Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick, 2 goals; Derek Armstrong and Lubomir Visnovsky, 3 assists; Demitra, 4 points; Sean Avery, 11 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 9): Oilers - Power play: 21.4 percent (3 for 14), 8th (tied) in NHL. Penalty killing: 80.0 percent (12 for 15), 16th. Kings - Power play: 37.5 percent (3 for 8), 1st. Penalty killing: 76.5 percent (13 for 17), 22nd.

GOALTENDERS: Oilers - Conklin (1-0-0, 0 SOs, 3.05 GAA); Jussi Markkanen (1-0-0, 0 SO, 2.40). Kings - Garon (1-1-0, 0, 2.93); Jason LaBarbera (1-0-0, 0, 2.00).

2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Tied, 2-2.

LAST MEETING: March 26, 2004; Oilers, 3-1. At Edmonton, Petr Nedved scored his 300th career goal and Fernando Pisani tallied on the power play as the Oilers handed the Kings their sixth straight loss.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers - 1-0-0-0 on the road; Kings - 2-0-0-0 at home.

[PDO]

I have an exhibition game tonight, so I have to tape this and watch it when I get home.. :laughing:

Anyway, fwe other points of intrest:

LA:

PP: 3/14 - 21.2% (8th)

PK: 4/22 - 81.8% (17th)

Goaltender: Jason Labarbera 1-0-0 2.00 GAA .931 sv%

Edmonton:

PP: 6/22 - 27.2% (4th)

PK: 19/22 - 86.3% (12th)

Goaltender: Conklin 1-0-0 3.00 GAA .824 sv%

I'm expecting a monstrous game from Conklin, who's seen Jussi put up 2 straight wins. The guy is a competitor, and he's feeling as much pressure as anyone in Edmonton. The PP will click, the PK will be perfect, and the Oilers will keep on rollin'.

[J.R.]

All tied up 1-1 after one.

Unfortunately that first period had to come to an end when it did, because the Oilers were really buzzing on the power play.

After getting the tying goal on a PP by Bergeron, they looked to take the lead late in the first and had a lot of chances, but the Kings' LaBarbera made two real nice saves with just second to go.

[Canadian26]

Oilers have to play more displined IMO, 10 penatlies is way to much and LA has a good PP. The last 2 man advantage against the oilers was BS. They just need to get a little more disciplined and stop taking penalites that can be avoided.

It was all about the goalies this game, edmonton cold have easly taken the lead in the second but the goaltending at both ends was stellar.

[J.R.]

So that's what losing feels like? Huh, that stinks.

Conklin didn't play well. He had a couple nice saves, but overall he let in three weak goals. The penalties accumulating is a problem again and Los Angeles took advantage tonight. Also being on a 3-on-5 isn't easy to make a comeback.

A 1-1 record on the short road trip isn't bad considering it was two games in two nights. The boys will rest up and get ready for the Dallas Stars on Friday night at The City of Champions Coliseum.

[PDO]

I'm fine with the loss. 3rd game in 4 days, on the road.. not to mention NO bounces tonight. I think almost everything that could've gone wrong did go wrong, from calls to lucky goals to Labarbarra having a horeshoe up his rear.

- Jason Smith gets run by Avery after the whistle and gets 4 minutes while Avery gets nothing. What?
- 2 goals on Conklin that should not have happened.
- Deflection in front of the net, Labarbarra has no idea where the puck is.. and it hits the knob of his stick.

And the list goes on.

[TimmyTabasco]

I'm fine with the loss. 3rd game in 4 days, on the road.. not to mention NO bounces tonight. I think almost everything that could've gone wrong did go wrong, from calls to lucky goals to Labarbarra having a horeshoe up his rear.

- Jason Smith gets run by Avery after the whistle and gets 4 minutes while Avery gets nothing. What?
- 2 goals on Conklin that should not have happened.
- Deflection in front of the net, Labarbarra has no idea where the puck is.. and it hits the knob of his stick.

And the list goes on.

So..in your opinion..is the Crooked Finn the starter, and Alaska Boy the backup? Markannen seems to be more solid..so far anyway

LA is playing decent hockey. Nothing amazing, but they are getting it done. Look for Garon to step out of the shadows, and nail down the No.1 job.

[Newfie John]

Conklin sucked last night from what I could see about the highlights. Had they had a decent guy in there they could have won it. This team could be a cup contender if only they had a goaltender.

[PDO]

On Conklin.. he played well, with two brian cramps. He did have 32 saves on 35 shots (which, taken out of context is always a good night); but he'll have to work on his mental side of the game. I'm assuming more than anything it's rust from not playing for so long. The book on him for a long time has been that he's always had a great mental side of the game, so he should be able to regain it.

Until that time comes though, he should play second fiddle to Jussi.

[Canadian26]

Conks settled down in the 2nd period, he was solid in the first period oilers where out shot terribly until about the last 5 mins. The goals he let in where kinda weak, but you cant just blame Conks.. Oilers had what 12 penalties last night? Which is highly undisciplined IMO. It was penalties not goal tending that cost us the game last night. Hes going to get the start again in Dallas, im sure he'll still play a great game.

And not to mention that Labarbarra was stellar in his own end ( i dont know if thats just because of his size, or pure luck)

[Newfie John]

On Conklin.. he played well, with two brian cramps. He did have 32 saves on 35 shots (which, taken out of context is always a good night); but he'll have to work on his mental side of the game. I'm assuming more than anything it's rust from not playing for so long. The book on him for a long time has been that he's always had a great mental side of the game, so he should be able to regain it.

Until that time comes though, he should play second fiddle to Jussi.

You could be right about the layoff being to blame. I mean, all I have to do is look at Ed Belfour. He's been bad too.