Hockey: Kings lose for the ninth time in 11 games
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St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson flipped an innocent-looking wrist shot from the blue line. The result was more trouble for the Kings.
Johnson’s harmless shot somehow trickled between the legs of goaltender Jonathan Quick 13 minutes 13 seconds into the third period, pushing the Blues to a 2-1 victory.
It was the Kings’ ninth loss in their last 11th games and dropped them to 12th place in the Western Conference, one point behind the Blues.
St. Louis has won only two of its last eight games, but both victories coming against the Kings.
The Kings tied the score in the second period on Matt Greene’s first goal in 60 games.
The Kings managed to sustain offensive pressure on the play, with Drew Doughty rushing the net. The Kings kept the puck alive and Brad Richardson slipped a pass to Greene, who fired a shot from the blue line past goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who was screened by the Kings’ Kevin Westgarth.
It was Greene’s first goal since Jan. 28, 2010 against Columbus. [UPDATED, 8:29 p.m.: After the game, Kyle Clifford was credited with the Kings’ goal.]
Quick, despite the soft goal, had his strongest game in nearly a month, stopping 18 of 19 shots. St. Louis other goal came on a five-on-three, when Matt D’Agostini threaded a pass through two Kings players to Patrik Berglund, who banged in a shot at the far post 11:56 into the first period.
--Chris Foster