Kings after two: Two goals in 35 seconds and it’s 2-2 in Vancouver
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The Kings looked lifeless until they got another power play almost midway through the second period and capitalized -- and then struck again 35 seconds later on a three-on-one counter to tie the score at 2-2.
Vancouver’s Shane O’Brien was sent off for roughing at 9:13 and the Kings broke through at 10:58. Jack Johnson took a shot that Luongo stopped with his pad but he was down and out of position to prevent Fredrik Modin from prodding in the rebound at 10:58.
After play resumed, the Canucks began to exert pressure in the Kings’ zone, with Daniel Sedin and Alex Burrows camping in front of goalkeeper Jonathan Quick. But Burrows and another Canuck fell and were out of the play as the Kings came up ice on an odd-man rush, which was capped when Anze Kopitar passed from the left side to Wayne Simmonds in the middle and Simmonds scored on a 15-foot wrist shot.
It was the Kings’ first even-strength goal in the series after scoring twice on the power play in Game 1 and getting their first goal Saturday with the man advantage.
After two periods the Kings had a 19-17 edge in shots. And with a split or a 2-0 series lead hanging in the balance, the third period looms as the first crucial moment in this series.
More later at www.latimes.com/sports
--Helene Elliott, reporting from Vancouver, Canada