Kings at Blues: St. Lewis Kicks the Blues

The last time the Kings and Blues played, the Kings had most of the possession, but the Blues scored literally all of the goals. It was a completely disheartening game at the end of a crap road trip. This time, the game went in the Kings’ favor, kicking off a longer road trip the right way.

Depth scoring has been a problem for the Kings, but the fourth line was on the ice when the Kings got on the scoreboard first, just two and a half minutes into the game. Jordan Nolan won a board battle to get the puck to Colin Fraser, who then passed it back to Muzzin at the point. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak was screened by two players sliding through the slot and couldn’t make the save on what turned into a somewhat soft goal. The Kings went up 1-0.

What Muzzin giveth, Muzzin taketh away, however. During the second period, TJ Oshie blocked a shot from Muzzin and turned it into a breakaway opportunity. Muzzin brought him down to stop him, resulting in a penalty shot opportunity for the Blues. Oshie beat Quick five-hole for some Team USA on Team USA crime.

There’s good news, bad news, and great news. The bad news is that goal tied the game. The good news is that it was the only goal the Blues scored throughout 60 minutes. The great news is that HOLY MUSIC NOTES, BATMAN, TREVOR LEWIS SCORED TWO GOALS.

The go-ahead goal for the Kings was initially credited to Dwight King. Of course that would happen to Lewis. It seemed that even when he scored, he couldn’t officially score. Kings players on the ice knew it, though. Look at his face when he realizes his shot deflected off of a Blues skater and not King.

That’s some genuine joy right there. How wonderful.

It fired Lewis up. Two minutes later, he controlled the puck during the penalty kill (because Lewis on the PK is a thing sometimes?), caught Halak out of position, and tucked in a shorthanded wraparound goal.

Well, well, well. It turns out that trying to score from behind the goal line worked out for him after all. What’s next? Scoring on the breakaway?

Anything seems possible now! Celebrate!

No one should get their hopes up about Trevor Lewis conquering empty nets yet, though. He shot wide on his opportunity to get the hat trick. Jeff Carter took it up himself to complete that task instead, making the final score 4-1 for the Kings.

This game was a lot more typical of a Kings-Blues game — physical and, until the third period, both teams had to work really hard to get any goals. Possession was dead even overall, with either team taking slight advantages depending on specific situations. The Blues had some better scoring chances, but Jonathan Quick was on his game again and made a few amazing saves to keep the Kings in it when St. Louis started to find momentum, particularly in the second and late in the third. Once Lewis was credited with the Kings’ second goal, Quick also got the secondary assist, pushing him ahead of Martin Jones and Ben Scrivens in points.

Penalties threatened to become a problem for the Kings. They were shorthanded five times. Luckily the penalty kill had a strong showing tonight, but that’s something they don’t want to start testing too often again. Oh, Muzzin elbowed Vladimir Sobotka in the head, which will likely earn him a meeting with NHL Player Safety.

Winning meant the Kings took the regular season series against the Blues. It feels amazing to write that it’s all because of game-winning goal-scorer Trevor Lewis.