LOS ANGELES – Watch out Western Conference, the Kings are starting to heat up. The defending Stanley Cup champions extended their win streak to four games on Saturday by defeating the Washington Capitals 3-1.
Dwight King, Trevor Lewis and Jarret Stoll all scored for the Kings who got revenge after losing to the Caps 4-0 on February 3rd.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say ‘revenge’; obviously we wanted to even up the series,” said King. “Right now we’re just trying to collect points, we’re not too worried about who we’re playing.”
The Kings who didn’t have a three-game winning streak in three months, have picked an opportune time to get back to their winning ways. After the Kings annual Grammy road trip, they fell out of the playoff picture in the NHL Western Conference standings. With their fourth consecutive win tonight, the Kings have 62 points on the season and kept pace with the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames who also won tonight and remain in front of them in the standings.
“You’re only as good as your last game, so we have to keep looking ahead,” added King.
The Kings have now scored 16 goals during their current streak and have found an offensive resurgence thanks to “That 70s Line” part deux. It’s no coincidence the combination of King, Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli have scored in every game on the current streak and did so again when King found the back of the net in the second period.
“They’re familiar with each other,” said King about his fellow line mates. “They play a pretty up-pace game, move and get open and they’re easy to read off. I’m just jumping in trying to create a little more space out there, and get the puck to them when they’re open.”
The revamped King-Carter-Toffoli line now has nine goals and nine assists during the win streak and each member scored a point again on Saturday. The Kings defense was superb once again as they were led by Robyn Regehr and Drew Doughty.
Lewis opened the third period with a 2-on-1 with Marian Gaborik and found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season, but just over a minute later, superstar Alex Ovechkin sent a one-time speeding past Quick for his 34th goal of the season.
“It was a bouncing puck, and I was hoping it for to bounce over that guy’s stick, and I know that Gabi [Gaborik] would have him with his speed,” said Lewis of his 2-on-1 with Gaborik. “I didn’t even have to say anything to Gabi, he knew I was there and made a great play just sliding it over to me. Luckily I had the goalie going the other way. It was a great play by Gabi.”
There was a scary moment in the third period after Ovehckin’s goal. Quick made an incredible save to deny Ovie the game tying goal. However, on the save, Quick’s stick went flying along the boards and he had nothing but his body and glove in net. A defenseman handed Quick his stick, but for over a minute of ice time, Quick was in net without his goalie stick. The Kings dodged the bullet however and went on to win the game.
“We tried to do our best, but it just wasn’t good enough,” said Ovechkin.
Braden Holtby made 27 saves for the Capitals, but surrendered three goals for his 11th loss of the season. His counterpart, Jonathan Quick was phenomenal once again as he anchored the team with 27 saves.
Game Notes:
Dwight King’s second period goal was his third consecutive game with at least one goal. Alex Ovechkin’s third period goal was his first goal in six career games at Staples Center. The Kings are now 5-0 against the Capitals at home, dating all the way back to 2005.
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