It was an economically sound offensive output for the Los Angeles Kings against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Los Angeles was getting contributions from all units on the evening. Additionally, the Kings were pretty stout on the defensive side, with goalie Jonathan Quick turning aside 24-of-25 shots to boot.
A beautiful display of hand-eye coordination by Anze Kopitar, allowed the Kings to break through on Dwayne Roloson in the first. Off a Matt Greene blast from the point, a perfectly timed redirect by Kopitar, whacked the puck home in midair for the 1-0 lead. For Kopitar it was his 17th marker on the campaign.
Yet in the second, Quick and poor Rob Scuderi couldn’t contain the birthday boy. On a play where Scuderi broke his stick on a shot, Tampa and Steven Stamkos capitalized. Streaking in on a stick less Scuderi, Teddy Purcell hit Stamkos for the game tying tally, his 35th.
Although midway through the frame, Scuderi would more than atone for his unfortunate mishap. Scuderi sent a laser pass, the length of the ice to hit Kyle Clifford in stride. That’s when Clifford backhanded one past Roloson for his fourth and the Kings regained the lead.
Later in the period, for good measure, Mike Richards hit Dustin Penner in the slot and Penner lit the lamp for his fifth and a 3-1 advantage for L.A.
Despite not registering more than eight shots in any period, the Kings were able to lock it down for a 3-1 victory. L.A. held Tampa at 0-for-3 on the power-play for the night.
With the win, the Kings jump to a plus one in goal differential. Additionally, they pick up points 61 and 62 on the year and hold at seventh place in the Western Conference standings.