Kings Survive Shark Tank in OT

Life In HockeywoodDec 10, 2009

Los Angeles Kings players mob teammate Dustin Brown against the boards after he scored the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in San Jose, Calif. Kings won 5-4 in overtime. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)" width="400">

Game 32: Kings 5, Sharks 4 (overtime)

The December to Dismember is still going strong, with the Kings currently unbeaten in regulation so far in this, the last month of 2009.

What a difference a year makes. Since I became a father for the second time last year, it amazes me just how fast my son has grown in just the last 6 months. He went from a crawling, babbling booger and poop machine to a toddling, babbling, poop and booger machine. Note I had to switch that last part around. I swear, that kid craps like a man.

I was at work Wednesday night once again, listening to Nick and Daryl on the radio while stealing peeks from the TV way across the newsroom. Once again, the radio feed was ahead of the action, so I gave away the result before it was shown on TV.

And I was fully into it, cheering when the Kings scored and muttering obscenities when San Jose would pot a goal. The overtime came, and as I was working, I could hear commercials from KTLK, so I figured there was a break in the action. I looked up to see Kings players piling on Brown, and I cursed out loud. People figured the Sharks won, and started laughing at me. I said "No, the Kings scored, and I missed it." They still laughed at me. Hmmm, maybe they were laughing "near" me.

Last year at this point, the Kings could only muster 11 wins, and lost four games by a goal as well as three games lost in the shootout. Jump in the DeLorean to the here and now, the Kings now have 19 wins, and have only lost one game by a goal. The shootouts are a wash, as they are split. But my point is, this team has turned that proverbial corner.

Look, I don't want to make too much of Wednesday's against the San Jose Sharks. It's still just one of 82 games. But this victory is very satisfying, regardless if a few of the goals, including Brown's game-winner should have been saved. The Kings have learned how to win as a team, as can hang with ANY team in the NHL, including San Jose.

The goal-scoring droughts all ended for Teddy Purcell, Anze Kopitar and Captain Brown in the same game, and you could see the relief on each of their faces when they scored. Anze's slump, in particular, has been the most frustrating. From the News Hound, Rich Hammond:

"You know, I was worried at first. When the referee pointed to the penalty box, I thought we got a penalty and my goal was going to be disallowed. I would have been really sorry, but it’s a relief. I think it was 14 games for me."

The boys are playing good hockey after stumbling a little when Ryan Smyth exited the lineup. But they are too deep with three scoring lines to be held down very long. It could very well be that Smyth's injury was the thing that brought this team together. They had to take accountability for their actions on the ice, and they are bringing it together. Especially their special teams. Again, from Hammond:

“Some teams’ penalty killing is outstanding, and San Jose is one of those teams. So we’re going to have to have close support for each other, manage the puck very well, make some hard, strong plays on the power play and try to buy some time for some guys to be able to make some plays.”

The Sharks were tops in the league in penalty killing before the game. After two Kings power play goals, they dropped to second. The Kings' power play is starting to come around; they have scored at least one PP goal in four of their last five games. And their penalty-killing has improved after hitting rock bottom a few weeks ago.

And let's not gloss over Erik Ersberg's win. Sure, it wasn't pretty. When you stake a 4-2 lead on a team, you should win that game. And if it had gone into the shootout, I'm not sure he would've done well. But he notched a win against one of the premiere teams in the NHL, so let's hope that wakes him up.

The Kings now face another division rival, Phoenix, at Staples Center tonight. Quick will be in goal, and I'm sure the Kings will be riding this victory for a while.

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