If anyone was wondering why the Pens view Evgeni Malkin in such a high standard, this game was a perfect example.
The Penguins fell to the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 after going 0-7 on the power play en route to their seventh regulation loss in 14 games this month. They threw everything they had at one of the best defenses in the NHL but couldn’t come up with that last goal to force at least an overtime.
To make matters worse, Marcel Goc left the game after injuring his right ankle.
Jeff Carter got the Kings going with a power play goal late in the first period. Marian Gaborik took a return pass from Anze Kopitar and fired a wrist shot from the right-wing circle that was deflected into the net by Carter.
Alec Martinez extended the Los Angeles lead to two 6:59 into the second period. As Tanner Glass was coming out of the penalty box, Martinez took a slap shot from the point that found its way past backup goaltender, and former teammate at Boston College, Jeff Zatkoff.
Chris Kunitz got the Pens on the board less than a minute later. Sidney Crosby attempted to center a pass to Jayson Megna who then sent a backhander that found its way to Chris Kunitz’s stick for a shot on a wide open net.
Taylor Pyatt added his fourth goal of the season eight minutes later, albeit in fluky fashion. Pyatt’s shot from the right face-off dot skipped off the shoulder of goaltender Martin Jones and into the net.
Drew Doughty scored less than four minutes into the third period to give the Kings a 3-2 lead. Dustin Brown dropped a pass back to Doughty who blasted the puck past the glove side of Zatkoff.
The Penguins frantically tried to find the equalizer but couldn’t get the bounce or break needed to tie the game. The Penguins looked like they scored midway through the third period but the goal was waved off when it was determined that the goaltender had been interfered. Technically, there is no review for goaltender interference, but the call was still made.
Three Stars
- Drew Doughty
- Jeff Carter
- Brandon Sutter
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
