Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche

LA Kings (W) 6 vs. Colorado Avalanche (L) 4

Before we get to the goalies I would like to say that I am a Kings fan but Wayne Simmonds is a dumb ass and deserves to be suspended, argue all you want but there is no reason whatsoever to butt-end a player, it is pure attempt to injure, you can't do it on accident.


Jonathan Quick


First goal scored after a shot is blocked by a defenseman and the rebound bounced right to Milan Hedjuek who backhanded it over Quick into the top of the net. Quick made a great attempt to make the save but it was out of his reach. Nothing he could do about it.



The second goal of the game for the Av's was scored from below the goal line on the power play when again a shot was blocked and redirected to the forward. The difference that makes this goal a little tougher to deal with is where the forward shot the puck from. Stasney was behind Quick and shot the puck off of his back. It makes the goal look at lot worse than it really was. All and all the save was made with the puck to the corner so Quick did just what you want.



Nice save by Quick to keep the Kings ahead, Chris Stewart stole the puck and went in alone on a partial breakaway. Instead of Quick going into the splits to move across the front like he always does he butterflyed, kept his legs closed and made the save.



The third goal was a result of Davis Drewiskie turning the puck over in the defensive zone. Quick did not see the puck and its tough to tell if he should have been able to or he was screened for the sake of argument I will say he was most likely screened but I don't like the way Quick couldn't find the puck it makes me question his focus.



The fourth goal came on the major power play that Wayne Simmons caused, it was a pass across the front that was one-timed through Quick, not a big fan of this goal because Quick was there and in front of it and instead of being calm and taking up as much net as he could he turned back into antsy Quick from last year moving his legs too much and I think that is why the puck made it through.

Craig Anderson

First goal by the Kings scored much the same way the Avalanche scored with a shot blocked by the defense and deflected to Ponikarovsky who backhanded the loose puck into the open net.



The second goal was on the Power Play finally. Loktionov throws the puck to Kopitar but it is blocked by Kyle Quincy, lucky for the Kings the puck squirted through the crease off of Quincy's skate and Kopitar continued to skate hard and pick it up on the other end and put it home.



The third goal was a result of hard work by the Kings to keep the puck in the zone and continue the attack. Willie Mitchell did a great job of getting the puck back to the front of the net, Schenn redirected it on net and Richardson scored on the rebound.



The fourth goal also came on the power play and was a great goal. The puck was moved from the corner to Dustin Brown in the middle of the slot who took a quick wrist shot high to the glove side. NHL players should score from there so I wouldn't fault Anderson.



The fifth goal came shorthanded after the Av's scored to tie it. Brad Richardson chased down a clearing attempt and forced Anderson out to play the puck. Anderson beat him and cleared the puck up the boards but Handzus Stoll got the puck and passed it to Richardson for a one-timer into the open net. Great play by Richardson and Anderson had to make the choice, I won't kill Anderson for trying to clear the puck but I have always been a fan of the goalie staying home in the net and making the save instead of racing forwards for the puck.



The sixth goal was the hat trick for Brad Richardson, his first career. Give Terry Murray credit for playing him on the first line to give him the chance. Sadly it was a bad goal by Anderson. Richardson took a wrist shot from just inside the blue line, Brown was in front for the tip and that may have confused Anderson but the puck hit Anderson's stick and went in high. That shouldn't happen but I'm happy for Richardson that it did.