Jim Fox: The Kings ... so near and yet....
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Editor’s note: The Kings aren’t televising the first two games of their current trip, so we’ve put FS West TV analyst Jim Fox to work. He agreed to share his thoughts and insights on today’s game in Montreal and Tuesday’s game in Ottawa, the city where he played junior hockey. Click here forJim’s first post from today, click here for his second one and here for his third. This is his game-over installment.
MONTREAL -- Period 3. Kings up 3-2 at the start.
Jarrett Stoll won 70% of faceoffs through two periods. ... The Kings continue to mix and match five defensemen. ... All’s quiet in the Bell Centre again.
The more I think about it, the more I wonde if there will be any supplemental discipline for Denis Gauthier’s hit on Canadiens’ defenseman Josh Gorges. The crackdown is on ‘hits to the head’ this year and when Gauthier left his feet, his elbow ended up at Gorges’ head level. Gorges continued in the game in the second period, but he was not on the bench to start the third.
The Kings have improved their ‘holding a lead’ play in the past month or so. Will it continue here? Coach Terry Murray likes to call it ‘shutting the game down.’ He feels it is a learned skill, and practice makes perfect.
The first penalty of the third goes to the Kings, Kyle Quincey -- holding in the defensive zone. At the 10-minute mark comes the biggest save of the relatively quiet third period, a two-on-one shot by the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty. Jonathan Quick went side to side and thrust his body out to make a sprawling chest save. Whatever it takes!
The Kings’ Anze Kopitar has been quiet on the score sheet but very effective and efficient. This is a good example of not letting other parts of your game suffer if the offense is not there on any given night or day.
Power play for the Kings. Alexander Frolov continues to shoot from the half-wall. In the long run, this will make the power play more effective.
After another strong forecheck and loose puck recovery, Kyle Calder takes an offensive zone penalty with 5:05 to play. Until this point I have Montreal with only two quality chances so far in the third period. Finally, a chance for Canadiens fans to get into the game again.
The power play for Montreal is mostly on the outside for the first minute. An effective shot block by Jarret Stoll and good front net clearance by the Kings.
A counterattack breakaway for the Kings’ Alexander Frolov (second of the game) and another save by Carey Price. That would have sealed it for the Kings.
More-than-solid penalty kill. Michal Handzus in the lanes to break up back-to-back passes. A two-on-none, Patrick O’Sullivan with Frolov, a shot off the post by O’Sullivan that would have sealed it, too. You have to wonder if that will come back to haunt the Kings.
We didn’t have to wait long to get the answer to that question. Christopher Higgins with an innocent looking play, until he stripped the puck from Drew Doughty … both players were leaning on each other in an elbow-to-elbow battle. Doughty was knocked off balance and Higgins swooped in and dekes Quick and goes up top. Very solid until this point by the Kings. Only 1:53 was left in 3rd ...
A penalty to Calder, taken in the offensive zone with 30 seconds left. The Kings’ Dustin Brown and the Canadiens’ Mike Komisarek also go off, creating a five-on-four power play for the Canadiens.
A big scramble in front. A shot from the blue line gets to the net. Saku Koivu is pushed into Quick and Quick is knocked back. The loose puck glances off Quick’s shoulder as he falls back. The Kings are all over the referee after he signals a goal. From every angle I saw, it looked like a good goal to me. Koivu was pushed into Quick and the puck was never covered. Only 22.3 seconds remaining.
For the Kings, a lot of missed chances to seal the game in the third period and too many offensive zone penalties. The Kings had total control of the game in most five-on-five situations -- only when they took penalties did things seem to slide.
It’s a tough one to swallow. The Kings were in control for most of the game. The third period was extremely solid until right at the end. The Kings were able to shut it down until the very end. The system seemed to work, the discipline was the issue. Defensive zone penalties are one thing -- offensive zone penalties are almost always unnecessary.
As as the game ends, the ‘Ole Ole Ole’ chant fills the arena here, another European feel that is present all over the city of Montreal. It’s a tough way to start a trip. Two points were there for the taking. Overall, the Kings were more than solid and outplayed Montreal. Another lesson to be learned: it’s never over until it’s … I don’t have to finish that one!
Ten minutes after the game has ended and I can still hear the ‘Ole, Ole, Ole’ chant. I don’t feel that good.
Off to Ottawa. ...
-- Jim Fox
Jim Fox is in his 19th season as the Kings’ TV color analyst on FS West. He spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Kings, and at the start of this season ranked eighth on the club’s scoring list, eighth in assists and ninth in goals. He has also been the Kings’ director of community relations. He lives in Redondo Beach with his wife, Susie.