Kings after one period: Kings 0, Tampa Bay 0

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The first period was scoreless and it was testy, with several scrums breaking out at stoppages. One extracurricular event reunited Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, playing his first game since he suffered a concussion Oct. 20, and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos, who was drafted one spot ahead of him in 2008. They’re friends, but they didn’t look especially friendly when Stamkos grabbed Doughty after a whistle at 8:42.

But the key for the Kings was they had a five-minute power play and failed to capitalize, taking only two harmless shots.

They gained that advantage at 8:59, after Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund hit Kings captain Dustin Brown from behind and drove Brown’s head into the glass. Brown—who turned 26 on Thursday—got up slowly and might have had a cut lip but he came back to play on the second power-play unit. Ohlund got a five-minute penalty for boarding but did not get a game misconduct--and was lucky he didn’t for such a dangerous hit.

The Lightning’s penalty killing was solid, especially with its ability to get sticks into the passing lanes to break up potential rushes by the Kings. After that advantage the Kings didn’t get another shot in the period, and each team took nine shots over the first 20 minutes.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott