After 2 in Detroit: Kings 2, Red Wings 0
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Defenseman Matt Greene, who took a hard hit from Niklas Kronwall along the boards in the Kings’ zone late in the first period, did not return for the second period. There was no immediate word on what was wrong.
His absence made it all the more remarkable that the Kings killed two penalties against defenseman Alec Martinez within a short span and increased their lead to 2-0.
Martinez, who grew up about 45 minutes away in Rochester Hills, Mich., was sent off for tripping at 7:30. Detroit was credited with seven shots but Jonathan Quick was superb, including thrusting his stick perpendicular to the ice to stop a shot by Holmstrom at 7:37.
Eleven seconds after Martinez returned he was sent to the box again, this time for holding. The Red Wings were credited with two shots on that advantage.
The Kings improbably extended their lead at 13:39. Drew Doughty had the puck at the right point and skated a few strides toward the middle of the ice before shooting. The puck was deflected, apparently by Kyle Clifford, and it sat on the ice just next to the left post. Oscar Moller, playing his second game since being recalled from Manchester, reached in to tap it home for his first goal since last Feb. 13.
We’ll have more later at www.latimes.com/sports.
--Helene Elliott, in Detroit