Final Buzzer: 'Hard-Fought' and Hard Luck

Deploying a combination of young players and wizened veterans, the Los Angeles Kings pulled off what Kraken coach Dave Hakstol would dearly love to see his squad do. The division rival jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the first 25 minutes, then played aggressively enough to generate scoring chances while minimizing the same from Seattle.

The Kraken bent things a bit with a second-period goal to cut the deficit to 2-1. But Los Angeles and winning goaltender Cal Petersen never broke. The third period was more grind than great playmaking, all to the liking of the Kings and coach Todd McLellan, who relocated in Southern California after many years heading up the San Jose Sharks.
The Kraken received one more power-play opportunity late in the game when Drew Doughty high-sticked Mason Appleton in front of the L.A. goal. But the Kraken power play didn't set up much against Los Angeles' lockdown mode.
A late empty-net goal by L.A. two-way forward Phillip Danault sealed the deal with a 3-1 final. The Kraken have lost nine consecutive games and clearly there are no morale victories in keeping games close.
"We're working hard but we've got to get a little extra and find ways to win," said Marcus Johansson, who scored the lone Seattle goal.
"We battled hard throughout," Hakstol said. "This was the kind of hockey game we knew it would be. They got to the inside at our net a little bit more than we did at their net.
"We needed to be a little bit more consistent in our lineup, more heaviness on some of those pucks to come up with extra possession along the way."

Driedger Turns in Solid Game

While Chris Driedger owned up to not liking his part of the first L.A. goal, his coach was positive about the goalie's second solid game in three nights.
"His game translated from the previous night," said Hakstol, who noted the "first six to seven minutes of the second period" and "late in the second period" as times of the game that Driedger didn't allow a dagger of a third goal. "He did his job, competed well and is looking more confident."
"My job is get wins and give up less goals than the other guy, that's my job," Driedger said. "I wasn't happy with the first one [opening goal]. Wasn't happy with the first one.
"It's disappointing to go out and lose this many in row. We're competitive guys. Before the game we were excited to play. It's not lack of effort ... it's completely unacceptable to drop nine in a row."
Danault scored the second goal and added an empty-netter for a two-goal night. He was impressed with Seattle.
"It was a great game," said Danault, a star for Montreal in last season's playoffs. "To be honest, it caught us off-guard a little, the way they play very hard. They play the right way."

Kings Strike First

Chris Driedger made an early period save on an Alex Iafallo shot from the left faceoff circle, but couldn't control the rebound. Adrian Kempe, named this week to his first NHL All-Star Game, seized the puck and moved it past Driedger four minutes into the first period.
Kempe made a skilled move to "catch" the puck with a turned skate, effectively passing to himself to quickly blade the puck into the net. L.A. captain and 16-season veteran Anze Kopitar notched his 23rd assist of the year to pair with 12 goals.
It is the 23rd time in 37 games the Kraken have surrendered the first goal of a matchup.
The Kraken responded with multiple solid shifts after the yet-again opponents' first goal. Nine minutes into the period they only had one shot on goal to show for but played the necessary responsible defense to keep the game close. The opening period ended with five shots on goal apiece for Los Angeles and Seattle.

Kings Strike Again

The second period had another fifth-minute score for Los Angeles when offseason acquisition Danault converted a Mikey Anderson shot and ensuing rebound for a 2-0 lead for the visitors.
Anderson, a 22-year-old defenseman, played first-pair minutes with veteran Doughty (who has been eating up monster time-on-ice for a decade). Saturday was his 97th NHL game at a young age, especially for a defenseman. Hockey minds generally consider defenders to need an extra season or two of development before making the big club.
L.A.'s rebuild is ahead of schedule and certainly helped by the free-agent signing of Danault and trading for depth-scoring forward Viktor Arvidsson. That said, Los Angeles GM Rob Blake, who just signed for several more years, and his scouting staff must be commended for Anderson and other young players holding down lineup spots for a squad that as of Saturday would qualify for the playoffs.
Along with Anderson, other prospects-turned-NHLers include third-pair defensemen Arthur Kaliyev (age 20) and partner Sean Durzi (23), plus forward Alex Turcotte (20), who played in his sixth NHL game here.

Opportunity Knocks for Kraken - Twice and Thrice

A double minor called on Kings defenseman Matt Roy, two minutes for the infraction and two minutes more for drawing blood on Yanni Gourde, worked out for the Kraken. After not doing much in the first two minutes of the power play, veteran D-man Mark Giordano made the simple play, putting a puck on net from his usual left point location.
Both Calle Jarnkrok and Johansson were net-front and in the line of Giordano's shot. Jarnkrok tipped it knee-to-chest, redirecting for a highly difficult shot for Peterson, who handled it but couldn't corral or clear the rebound. Johansson muscled in the rebound to make it a one-goal game. It was Johansson's fourth goal of the year and his third power-play score.
Second power play and third set of two minutes of man-advantage soon followed. The highlight of that power play was setting up Kraken leading goal scorer Jared McCann for a pair of one-timers that wowed the capacity crowd of 17,151 but didn't get past Petersen.

No Goal, But Keeping It Close

With just under three minutes left in the second period, an apparent goal was determined to be a no-goal. Ryan Donato's shot went off Peterson's shoulder, hitting the post, next off Peterson's skate and ultimately dribbling out to the right side of the net. Play was stopped, the no-goal verified, and the fleeting tie game was not to be.
Yet Seattle finished 40 minutes only a goal behind despite a second period in which Los Angeles racked up 13 shots on goal (four "Grade-A" chances per NaturalStatTrick.com) compared to six for Seattle.
Driedger turned in another solid period, especially holding up to late pressure from the Kings after the Donato no-goal. He made three saves in five seconds on Roy, Turcotte and 37-year-old Dustin Brown before Driedger sprawled full-forward to freeze the puck and tourniquet matters.
In all, the period was a frame that will be embraced by the coaching staff: Cutting the lead in half, not allowing that deadly third goal (with the preseason anticipated contribution from the Seattle goalie of the night) and working the puck enough in the offensive zone to not expend all energy on defending.