Gameday Soundtrack: Don’t Give Ottawa an Inch

The LA Kings won both games in their first back-to-back this week, but they probably shouldn’t have. After controlling most of the game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Kings saw the Toronto Maples Leafs walk all over them. Scoring two goals on seven shots in the third period helped them skip town with two points, but they can’t count on staying lucky.

When they faced the Ottawa Senators in October, the Kings came out strong, scoring three goals in the first period. Two were power play goals — one from Dustin Brown and the other from Jeff Carter. They’ve scored a PPG in each of the last two games, and continuing to rehab the special teams could help the Kings push out in front.

However, the Kings also expertly managed to give up the three-goal lead during the second period of that October game at Staples Center. The middle frame is still the weakest for this team, so a challenge for today isn’t only getting make to establishing dominance but maintaining it.

Don’t make me watch a lead slip away again! Please. It’s too early in the day for this game as it is.

If they’re smart, the Kings will capitalize on Ottawa’s struggles. Though they won their last game against the Buffalo Sabres, coach Paul MacLean has acknowledged that the Senators are playing inconsistently, having trouble putting together wins. Unless the clean things up right now, their playoff chances could soon slip away.

Meanwhile, the Kings head into Ottawa on a five-game win streak with two hot goaltenders in Martin Jones and Ben Scrivens. Plus, they’ve been able to net at least three goals in each of their last five games, hopefully working past the scoring trouble they ran into in later November. They should start the game as the more confident team and build on that.

Look, we all know this is ultimately a bridge game for many Kings fans. The Kings need to win because the Pacific Division continues to be a difficult one to play amongst, but they face a bigger test in Chicago tomorrow evening.

Play well against the Senators, stack two more points to take second place in the Pacific from San Jose again, and then jet back to the US to prepare to deal with Chicago’s insane offense.