Kings fall to the Flyers as 2010 year comes to a close to start their 8 game home stand (1/11)
The defending champion Easters Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers came to the Staples Center to play the hot LA Kings. Well, at least until the night before when Phoenix blistered them for a 6-3 win. Jonathon Bernier started in goal in place of Jonathon Quick, but he didn’t fare well either. The Flyers have been playing pretty good hockey of late despite missing All Star defenseman and their MVP of the team last year Chris Pronger. He has been out with a knee injury. Also, last year’s starting goalie Michael Leighton started his first game of the season coming off back surgery and looked shaky.
The Kings have moved within 2 points of division leader Dallas but their defense and discipline let them down in this game as they lost 7-4. Too many penalties combined with spotty defense and shaky goaltending led to the loss. They had two 5-3 situations against them in which Philadelphia scored. Bernier was pulled midway through the second period and replaced with Quick but to no avail. Rob Scuderi told me the defense was not sharp and that has to improve after their two ugliest games of the season.
Ryan Smith started the scoring with his 13th goal of the season from an incredible angle. Philly tied it as Danny Briere was left wide open as Kyle Clifford failed to defend him. He scored on a wrist shot after a nice pass from Mike Richards. Justin Williams then scored his 15th goal of the season after a lengthy delayed penalty against the Flyers as the Kings made some beautiful passes showing patience and great team play. Kopitar and Doughty assisted on the goal but that was short lived as Richards tied it with his 12th of the season as Jack Johnson let him walk in alone on a 2-1 break. I don’t like to second-guess but you have to make the guy with the puck pass it and not skate directly to the goalie. That was all in the first period as it ended 2-2.
Scott Hartnall gave the visitors the lead again as Claude Giroux centered the puck and it went off Hartnall’s skate. Video replay showed he didn’t intentionally kick it in so the goal was allowed. Coach Terry Murray saw the replay and agreed it was a good goal. He also said the team needs to get back to practice as they need to execute better. He was confident his young team would get better especially with the stretch of home games coming up. Richards made it 4-2 on a great pass from James Van Riemsdyk in the second period. Not long after, the Kings made it a one goal game after Michael Handzus was denied on a breakaway and the puck came right to Johnson who scored on a slap shot past Leighton. Then the wheels came off as the Kings had back to back 5-3 power plays against them and Philly scored on both power plays (Carter his 15th and Van Riemsdyk his 8th) to make it 6-3. The Kings got one back as Smith scored on a Philly penalty and it was 6-4 after two periods. The 3rd period tightened up as only Ville Leino for the Flyers scored so the final was 7-4. The Kings next two games are New Years Day vs. San Jose and then Chicago on January 3rd during this 8 game home stand, which didn’t start out to well against the Flyers.
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