Los Angeles Kings @ Detroit Red Wings (Game Recap 12/19/2007)

Different Game, Same Story for the Los Angeles Kings.  On Tuesday against Colorado the Kings took a bad early and it set the tone for the rest of the game, well against the Red Wings it was no different!  Jason LaBarbera was looking to build off that performance he gave Monday night against the Avalanche, but in this game he would get no help.

Cammalerri took holding penalty just 22 seconds into the 1st period, and just like that the Red Wings are up 1-0 less than one minute into the game!  The Red Wings got another goal from Hudler toward the midway of period one.  With a 2-0 deficit, the Kings were in another hole early.  Detroit forward Franzen was called for a holding penalty with two minutes left in the 1st period.  The Kings, Dustin Brown then cashed in on the golden opportunity to get them back in the game by netting a Power-play goal. 

The Kings came out for the 2nd period and shocked the Red Wings, by not only scoring 15 seconds into the period but tying the game as well.  The people in the Hockeytown thought they were going to be in for a game, but then the Red Wings woke back up with some help from the Kings. Three minutes after tying the game Zetterberg flipped the puck towards Kings goalie Labarbera when defense-man Tom Preissing deflected the puck with his hand confusing goalie Jason LaBarbera, Thomas Holmstrom was then able to poke the puck into the goal to give the Red Wings the lead right back at 3-2. 

After that it was no looking back as the Red Wings poured it on.  The Red Wings got 3rd Period goals from Cleary, Franzen, and Filppula to cap of the win.  The game that was once tied 2-2, was quickly changed by four straight goals from four different Red Wings.  Future Hall of Fame goalie Domink Hasek was sharp enough for the Red Wings stopping 18 of 20 shots.  Once again bad penalties and mistakes cost the Kings.  The Red Wings showed why they have been an elite team for the last 10 years.  All the players on the team know their role and they combine it into the system to work.  They also get good goal-tending, make teams pay for the mistakes made, and they capitalize on the Power-play.   

The Kings have now won 4 of their last 19 games.  Where do they go from here?  Coach Marc Crawford better figure out something because nothing is really working.  Outside of the 8-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Staples on December 6th, this has been a miserable month for the Kings.  If it keeps up at this pace, they will be eliminated from the playoff race by early February.