Coyotes at Kings: The Season of Giving!

After Thursday’s epic comeback, those of us feeling down about the Kings’ December felt that oh-so-horrible hope creeping in. Maybe the home-and-home games versus the Blues featuring a third period collapse followed by an even better third period comeback was just what the doctor ordered to get things jumpstarted.

The Kings have a favorable schedule to wrap up 2014. Now is the time for them to go on a roll. A day game against the almost last place Arizona Coyotes? No problem!

A power play 15 seconds in presented the Kings with a great chance to grab the lead immediately. Instead, they gave up the biggest shorthanded breakaway you could possibly envision. Jonathan Quick bailed them out with a sweet save.

So, special teams weren’t converting early but their 5-on-5 play was dominant, eventually leading to a Jeff Carter goal. It was his second in as many games.

Jake Muzzin then suffered a hilariously bad “holding the stick” call for literally removing a Coyotes player’s stick from his skate. Since the Kings’ penalty kill has been shaky and they seem to love allowing first period goals right now, the Coyotes could’ve easily tied it. Instead Trevor Lewis got a shorthanded breakaway but didn’t get a shot. Because Trevor Lewis.

The Kings ended the first period with a 64.5 Corsi For percentage and a 1-0 lead that lasted for a solid 45 seconds into the second period. Arizona’s Martin Hanzal, fresh off becoming a new dad, out-muscled Muzzin and his backhand shot deflected off of Marian Gaborik’s stick, tying the game.

Unhappy with relinquishing the lead, Brayden McNabb nearly decapitated a dude (legally, I might add), as he does.

#anvil pic.twitter.com/FN6nW9LVQH

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 20, 2014

Despite vastly out-playing the Coyotes, the Kings fell behind 2-1. Overcome with the giving spirit of the holidays, Arizona’s second goal of the night hit Richards’ skate, McNabb’s stick, and then fluttered over a sliding Quick’s shoulder, past Matt Greene’s panicked eyes and into the net.

It felt very much like #oneofthosegames.

Carter missed the most open net in the whole wide world. Quick kept things close with another sprawling save. Business as usual.

Remember this one pic.twitter.com/atyqP5EntQ

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 20, 2014

The Kopitar-Gabbo connection, enjoying resurrection after a six-month hiatus, earned a PP goal. Gaborik’s sixth in the past four games.

*fanning self with both hands* pic.twitter.com/z57G5VZLsb

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 20, 2014

The Kings took the lead 1:34 into the third period, benefitting from an Alec Martinez power play goal. For those keeping count, that’s five power play goals in two games. For the Kings! They allowed a mere three shots on goal in a period that included a Coyotes power play and a minute-plus of 6-on-5 with the goalie Devan Dubnyk pulled at the end of the game.

American Hero Trevor Lewis scored the insurance goal off of a nice pass from Toffoli. Gaborik landed the secondary assist despite lying unconscious on the ice*, stealing Lewis’ glory by panicking Kings fans everywhere.

*Not quite accurate, but almost.

I knew it’d be a Christmas miracle if Marian Gaborik made it till the end of the year.

— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) December 20, 2014

Bitter sweet moment, Gaborik gets laid out but Toffoli does an amazing job of stick handling around his prone body.

— All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) December 20, 2014

Lewis: “My name is Trevor Lewis, you killed my first line winger. Prepare to die.”

— Feliz NaviDunn (@NotDeadRyanDunn) December 20, 2014

Pretty sure the NHL is going to take a look at that hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson. It was ruled clean on the ice but there could be debate over whether Gaborik’s head was the principle point of contact.

Gaborik returned for his next shift, but he didn’t show for his scheduled post-game interview with Patrick O’Neal and Sean O’Donnell. I’d say his status is up in the air.

And then, because it can’t be a Kings-Coyotes game without Classy Shane Doan being the absolute classiest, the game ended with a full scrum. Our viewing experience was complete.

It’s ok guys, just a misunderstanding. Doan thought it was totally possible to score two goals on one shot after the final buzzer. Honest mistake.

The Kings scored six goals for the second consecutive game, only four of which counted FOR them, but still. Scoring slump busted. A victory, some charity and good feelings all around just in time for the holidayz.

All I want for Christmas is Gaborik-Kopitar-Carter, forever and always, amen.

And for Trevor Lewis to be the star we all know he can be.

You’re doing it, Trevor!

Breakout season, the sequel. RT @SirJDL: So how about that Trevor Lewis? On pace to surpass that career high of 6 goals.

— thx bae (@thxbud) December 20, 2014