Skinner scores winner in Hurricanes 2-1 win over Kings
The
Carolina Hurricanes came back to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in
front of a crowd of 18,680 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. on
Saturday night.Jiri Tlusty and Jeff Skinner provided the offense...
 |
| Cam Ward - Elsa, Getty Images |
Five of the last six games in the series between Los Angeles and Carolina have been decided by one goal and Saturday's match-up at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. should offer much of the same.
The Hurricanes are averaging 2.5 goals/game and allowing 3 goals against/game while the Kings are averaging 2.1 goals/game and allowing 2.1 goals against/game.
It will not be surprising if this one heads to overtime and/or a shootout.
The Hurricanes are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games at the RBC Center and are 7-for-25 (28.0%) on the power play and have killed 24 of the 28 during that span.
Both teams' goaltenders are hot right now as Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has allowed just eight goals in his last five starts while Ward has recorded two shutouts in his last five games.
For Carolina, Eric Staal has scored in two straight games (1g, 1a) including the game winner in a 3-0 shutout win over the Boston Bruins.
Staal has tallied 18 points (5g, 13a) over his last 15 games and leads the team in points (38) and assists (26), and is tied for third on the team in goals (12).
For the Kings, Anze Kopitar has 16 points in the last 20 games (5 g, 11a) and 11 (5g, 6a) points in the last 14 games.
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In-Game notes:
1st period
In-Game notes:
1st period
- The Kings don't start hot goaltender Jonathan Quick, but the other Jonathan, Bernier that is
- Hurricanes start Jussi Jokinen, Brandon Sutter, and Andreas Nodl - not usual starting line
- Los Angeles doesn't look worse for the wear getting two good rushes into the Hurricanes' end
- Kings continue to apply pressure and test Ward early with two shots on in just under two minutes of play - he's used to that it seems
- Anthony Stewart gains the zone and saucers a pass to Tim Brent but he's taken down by LA's Matt Greene - first PP opportunity for the Hurricanes
- Kings are keeping more control of the puck on the PK than the Hurricanes getting any offense going on the PP
- Anthony Stewart takes a cross-checking penalty and the Hurricanes pay the price for it as the Kings score on the PP to put LA ahead 1-0 at 4:58
- LA continues to control the puck in the Hurricanes' zone and keeping Ward busy
- Looks like Carolina is keeping line changes quick and rolling all four lines so far
- Carolina finally gets control and try to establish control in the LA zone, but the Kings defense plays them tough and play heads the other way
- Kings outshooting Hurricanes 6-1 halfway through the period
- Hurricanes get play down to LA zone as Pat Dwyer, Sutter and Nodl put pressure on the Kings
- Hurricanes get another shot on the PP as LA's Trevor Lewis gets a penalty for hooking at 13:31
- Hurricanes' Tuomo Ruutu got the best shot on Bernier, but the PP goes 0-2
- Kings still leading 1-0 with 4;17 remaining
- Sutter line is the one that generates the best chance with Bryan Allen getting a wide open shot on Bernier - the tender makes the save
- LA does not go away as they continue to hover around Ward and his crease as he makes another big stop
- Little entertainment with 1:26 left as Tim Gleason and Kyle Clifford drop the gloves - Gleason gets the first good shot in and the winning toss
- Kings carry the 1-0 lead into the intermission - leading 8-4 in shots on goal as well
- Hurricanes get a shot on Bernier early within the first minute of play
- Jay Harrison takes a tripping penalty at 1:39 in and the Kings have a PP with face off to the right of Cam Ward
- Carolina does a nice job of killing the penalty as well as getting a few shots on net with Jiri Tlusty getting a great shot off the wing that Bernier deflects away
- Ward comes up with a big save at the six-minute mark on as Kopitar gets a stick on the rebound shot that originated from the point
- Kings' defense effectively standing Hurricanes up at the blue line - playing good gap defense
- Line of Jokinen, Jeff Skinner and Drayson Bowman turning the heat up on Bernier
- Skinner lets a blistering slap shot go that the Kings' goaltender has to put everything in front of to stop from going in
- Brad Richardson takes a holding penalty at 8:54 - Carolina on the PP again
- Carolina's first sequence is effective and generates some opportunities as Kings look a little slow on the PK compared to the first period
- Hurricanes go scoreless on the PP but are closing the gap on shots on goal with 11 so far while the Kings have increased their total to 13
- LA's defense is just as effective on the offense with Drew Doughty hammering a shot that Ward snags with his catcher
- Both teams trade shots on as play goest from end to end
- Kings defenseman Alec Martinez turns it over to Jiri Tlusty who beats him down the wing and snaps a shot past Bernier to tie the game 1-1 at the 4:20 mark.
- Nodl takes advantage of another turnover by a Kings defenseman, this time Matt Greene, but Bernier makes the save on his wide open chance on him - still 1-1
- LA getting some good shots on goal as the period is winding down as Jack Johnson gets a wide-open look that is deflected into the netting
- At the end of the period, the score is tied 1-1 - Kings lead in overall SOG -18-15
- Both teams start the period with non-stop play back and forth with few stops in the play for the first few minutes
- As the Hurricanes gain possession in the Kings' end, Jeff Skinner scores at 3:02 on a rebound from a Jussi Jokinen shot that was set up by Drayson Bowman
With Skinner's go-ahead goal Carolina has established offensive control of the game outshooting LA 5-0 in the first 6:30 of play- Crowd of 18,680 fully into the game cheering Lets' go 'Canes!
- Hurricanes applying tight forechecking deep in the LA zone
- As the play transitions down into the Carolina zone, the Kings execute a long sequence with Ward denying Clifford a wide open look
- Another huge save on Kings' Trevor Lewis as Ward stands his ground and smothers the puck
- Hurricanes still leading 2-1 w/ 8:04 remaining
- Carolina continues to apply tight forechecking pressure deep in the LA zone and close checking in their own defensive end
- Jeff Skinner gets a great chance on Bernier and is drilled into the boards afterwards - no call to the disagreement of the crowd
- LA starting to put even more pressure on the Hurricanes but Ward and he defense hold thier ground
- With under two minutes, Hurricanes still lead 2-1
- LA pulls Bernier and have the extra attacker deep in the Hurricanes zone
- Ward comes up with a big save with traffic in front of him
- Faceoff with 10 seconds left in the LA end
- Hurricanes keep the pressure on and hold the Kings at bay winning 2-1
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