Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Kings (47-24-9) face the Seattle Kraken (35-40-6) in a season series winner-take-all match at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA on Tuesday, April 15.
The last time the LA Kings played the Kraken on home ice, they were shocked with a 2-1 loss on Monday, April 7. With the Las Vegas Golden Knights clinching the Pacific Division, the Kings play these games with the intent to maintain their second place standing which affects seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Notably, many of the Kings' best stars including defenseman Drew Doughty, defenseman Mikey Anderson, center Anze Kopitar, right wing Quinton Byfield, and defenseman Joel Edmundson are out in order to rest them with the playoffs right around the corner.
FIRST PERIOD
Los Angeles have deployed the B-squad to face the Kraken tonight, with goaltender David Rittich starting for the Kings. The first period begins with the Kings' B squad and the Kraken vying for control of the puck.
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LA commits the first penalty of the night - defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov with a hooking penalty. Seattle begin the first period with a free power play against the B-squad. The Kraken make no use of the power play, but neither team has much offensive momentum at the moment.
As the former half of the first period comes around, both teams play relatively clean hockey and Seattle surprisingly has made an impressive amount of shots at the Los Angeles net -- 11 shots compared to the Kings' 3 shots. So far, neither team has broken through, despite some excellent stick play by both teams.
AS I SPEAK, THE RINK HAS WOKEN UP AS KINGS CENTER SAMUEL HELENIUS, WITH THE ASSIST BY GAVRIKOV TO REDEEM HIMSELF, 1-0
Los Angeles has jolted their offensive momentum during this first period, even with many bench players getting to shine on the hockey rink tonight. Meanwhile, Seattle commits their first penalty --- tripping against LA King left wing Trevor Moore ---, granting the Kings their first power play.
AS I WRITE THAT, ALEX TURCOTTE TIPS IN ANOTHER GOAL FOR THE KINGS, WITH LEFT WING KEVIN FIALA AND RIGHT WING ADRIAN KEMPE SCORING A POWER PLAY GOAL, 2-0
The Kings' B-squad so far during the first period has kept the same offensive prowess the team is known for, peaking at the right time as the Stanley Cup Playoffs round the corner.
SECOND PERIOD
The second period starts and so far both teams vie for control of the puck. Kraken defenseman Vince Mann has been penalized orignally for slashing left wing Andrei Kuzmenko, but now he has been docked another penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Kings' B-squad players, granting LA a power play.
The Kings get nothing out of their second power play.
As the period progresses, Seattle has gotten fairly aggressive in their shots. Kraken left wing Tye Kartye scores the first goal for his team with his own unassisted "I'm the man" shot into the LA net to keep the Kraken within one score, 2-1.
Los Angeles defenseman Kyle Burroughs commits the second penalty -- high sticking ---, granting the Kraken another power play. Ultimately, the Kraken are unable to break through the Kings' defense, which burned time off the clock despite the Kraken's brazen amount of shots to the LA net.
Now, the Kings are giving away power plays left and right, as center Phillip Danault get penalized for tripping. As a result, Seattle defenseman Brandon Montour scores another goal for the Kraken, tying the game 2-2.
So far in the second period, both goals made by Seattle were capitalized on through power plays and mistakes made by the Kings' B-squad. At the 7:00 minute mark, the Kraken have also outhit the Kings 21-8, despite the Kings not being afraid to put some hits onto the Seattle roster on ice.
Adrian Kempe has now made history for himself, scoring 400 points throughout his National Hockey League career.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, KINGS LEFT WING WARREN FOEGELE SCORES ANOTHER GOAL FOR THE KINGS WITH A BACKHAND SHOT TO PUT THEM AHEAD AGAIN, 3-2
OH MY, NOW THE KINGS HAVE GONE BACK-TO-BACK WITH RIGHT WING ALEX LAFERRIERE HITTING A SNAP SHOT TO EXTEND THE KINGS' LEAD, 4-2
Los Angeles have redeemed themselves this second period with their offensive bounce back, but the penalties they have made which at one point kept the Kraken in the game linger.
THIRD PERIOD
The third period starts with the Kraken winning the faceoff against the Kings, as they hope to stave off the Kraken offense.
THEY START THE THIRD PERIOD WITH A WRIST SHOT DAGGER BY KEMPE ASSISTED BY KUZMENKO AND TURCOTTE, THIS GAME IS 5-2
LOS ANGELES ARE NOW MAKING A STATEMENT AGAINST SEATTLE, WITH HELENIUS LANDING A WRIST SHOT INTO THE KRAKEN NET FOR HIS SECOND GOAL OF THE NIGHT, MAKING IT 6-2
While the Kings get excited about their consecutive goals, Kraken center Jaden Schwartz connects a wrist shot into the LA Kings net to make it a 6-3 score.
So far in this first half of the third period, both teams have gotten to work offensively, while at the same time not giving up any penalties.
As the latter half of the final period comes around, Phillip Danault commits a tripping penalty against a Seattle player, granting them another power play.
Less than 30 seconds after the power play is initiated, Kraken center Matty Beniers tips in a goal, keeping Seattle within two goals, 6-4.
Near the very end of the period, Kings' Helenius commits another penalty --- hooking ---, giving the Kraken yet another power play to capitalize on. Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen smacks a snap shot into the Kings net once more to keep his team within one goal, 6-5.
This Kraken team simply does not quit, and the Kings have given them so many opportunities to score.
It was close, but the Kings prevailed in the end in a 6-5 victory against the Seattle Kraken. These teams end the regular season going even against each other, winning two games apiece.
While the match probably would not have been as close without the various penalties and miscues by the Kings B-squad tonight, if anything this victory should renew confidence in how deep the bench and roster as a whole is going into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Kings will play their final regular season game, ending it at home against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, April 17.