LOS ANGELES | According to Jake Allen, the Canadian needs to learn a lesson from that 4-0 loss to the Kings on the ice at Crypto.com Arena.
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“The Kings don’t let you breathe a sigh of relief. “When you have time and space against this team, it’s completely different than when you have time and space against other teams,” Allen explained. They probably have the best overall game in the NHL. I’ve seen it on TV a few times, but in person it’s really impressive. It was a good lesson for us. »
Allen had a good place to discover all the Kings’ talent, but also to analyze their system of play based on a 1-3-1 structure.
Allen was thwarted four times on 30 shots and looked poor on two goals, both from Trevor Moore. But we won’t blame the masked man for this defeat.
It was pretty chaotic in front of him. On the blue line, Johnathan Kovacevic (-3) and Gustav Lindström (-1) had difficult games. They couldn’t leave their territory with the puck under control.
“It was more the pressure from the Kings that caused us problems, we couldn’t get out of our zone,” summarized defender Mike Matheson. There were presences where we were stuck in our territory. We went into survival mode. When you finally get the puck back, all you think about is switching because you have no energy left. »
“For half the game the Kings gave us a hard time with their pressure and forechecking, and the other half they stayed 1-3-1,” Matheson continued. They were waiting for the three of us in the neutral zone. It’s a different style. We had to be patient and move quickly, but we couldn’t. »
A clear dominance
At the end of the game, the scoreboard reads 4 for the Kings and 0 for CH. However, there were other numbers that illustrated the pace of this meeting. The Canadian only shot once at Pheonix Copley in the first third.
The Alaska goaltender probably posted one of the easiest shutouts of his career, stopping 18 shots. Copley made his best save by stretching his pad during a second-period power play and tackling a shot from Nick Suzuki. For stat lovers, this was Copley’s third NHL shutout.
Let’s continue with the numbers. 30 to 18 strokes lead for the Kings. But also 60 to 45 shot attempts. Once again for the Kings.
But the statistic that stands out the most is the odds of scoring a quality goal at five-on-five: 16 to 2 (according to the website naturalstatttrick).
“We only had one chance in the first game, but I wasn’t mad at my team because we didn’t give the Kings too many chances,” summarized Martin St-Louis. Our second hour was much better. After two thirds (2-0 for the Kings) we followed our plan. But after the third goal in the third half, we opened the game and things weren’t going well anymore. I give the Kings credit, they have a good team. We didn’t play a bad game. »
The kings among the elite
After wins in Anaheim and San Jose, CH failed to complete its California hat trick. The Kings recorded their fifth win in a row, but also their ninth win in their last eleven games.
With a record of 13-3-3, the Kings have big ambitions this season. They also have a dream center line with Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault and Pierre-Luc Dubois. There is so much talent at that position that they moved young Quinton Byfield to left wing.
“The Kings have a very good team, they are among the elite,” said winger Brendan Gallagher. They weren’t that good. They just played a good game. They have depth and execute their system well. I wouldn’t say we were terrible. In first grade it was a game of chess. There was little space. After the Kings’ first goal we put a little too much pressure on us. We can learn from the way they play. »