Carolina Hurricanes (L) 3 vs LA Kings (W) 4
The Kings finished up their home stand with a battle of back up goaltenders. Justin Peters was in net for the Hurricanes and Jonathan Bernier got the start for the Kings. For Kings fans it was good news as Anze Kopitar and Adrei Loktionov scored their first goals of the season.
Justin Peters
Goals (4) Shots (27) Saves (23) Save % (.852)
In his first game of the season Justin Peters had a game that was just kinda blah. He was solid at times but without major mistakes he allowed four goals to the Kings. For the most part he did a good job controlling rebounds, but he ran into a couple of goals that he could do nothing about.
The first goal scored by the Kings was a good play on attack and if anything Peters should have controlled the rebound on the first glove save, but he didn't and Ryan Smyth got lost when he went behind the net and pounced on the rebound. Once the rebound was not controlled there became nothing that Peters could do.
The second goal that Peters allowed I cannot find video for but it was a goal that there was nothing Peters could do to stop it. With nine seconds left in the period Wayne Simmons took a shot through a screen of three players ( 2 Canes 1 King) the shot hit Alexi Ponikarovsky had his stick hit the puck first, from there it fluttered a bit and hit Michal Handzus' stick changed directions again and managed to find a hole in Peters pads. He never saw the puck shot or change direction twice, he had no chance.
The third goal was just a great shot by Anze Kopitar, a well timed hit by Dustin Brown created a turnover deep in the zone and the puck made its way to Kopitar's stick who fired and off footed shot high to the far corner off the post and in.
There will be some debate about the fourth goal, Adrei Loktionov from behind the goal line shot the puck and it hit Peters' stick and redirected through his legs for the game winner. I don't think i have to tell you that this was a bad goal. A goalie is responsible for taking away the passing lane with his stick but he has to pay attention. Loktionov caught him sleeping and made him pay. Many people have been wondering if Loktionov did it on purpose and he won't say but I can tell you that his absoulutly did it on purpose. You can't see in this replay but you can during the actual game footage. The way the puck comes off of his stick he is either shooting or passing to a player low in the zone. The wider angle shot shows that Willie Mitchell was in the area the pass would have gone but he is leaving to go back to the point. It is very clear that Mitchell was leaving a thus far in Loktionov's brief career he has shown to be a very talented passer. He may never admit it but I have no doubt that he was trying to score that goal.
Jonathan Bernier
Goals (3) Shots (30) Saves (27) Save % (.900)
Bernier had one of those nights that might be typical for him early on this season. Through the first two periods Bernier looked as if he was having trouble with his focus, I saw signs of it in the earlier game against Calgary too. This is often a problem with work-horse goaltenders that get pushed into back up duty. The good thing is when the Kings needed him to step it up in the third period he was stellar, now he just needs to bring that focus into the first two periods.
Though his focus was in question early I don't think he can be totally faulted on the first goal. Chad LaRose just like Anze Kopitar took a perfect shot of the far post and into the top of the net. It was just a case of a good shot beating a good goalie.
The second goal was more a case of not focusing. Eric Stall took a good hard low shot to the far corner. Bernier just didn't seem to see it fast enough or maybe just missed it but either way it was a save he should have made.
The third and final goal was similar to the first Kings goal. Bernier had the puck in his glove but lack of focus made him drop it, when he did Jeff Skinner batted it straight through is legs.
After that mistake Bernier re-focused and stood on his head to stop 17 shots in the third period.
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