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Kings after two periods: Kings 4, Nashville 0

By Helene Elliott
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This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Kings broke the game open in the second period at Staples Center and chased Pekka Rinne from the Predators’ net. He was replaced by Anders Lindback after giving up the Kings’ fourth goal, by Jarret Stoll.

Ryan Smyth extended the Kings’ lead to 3-0 at 6:47 of the middle period on a goal like so many others he has scored during his career. Rob Scuderi took a shot that bounced around in front of the crease, and with Rinne by the left post Smyth fought for position and slipped a sweet backhander inside the right post for his fourth goal this season. Scuderi and Justin Williams got the assists.

Stoll made it 4-0 at 10:47 when he went to his backhand to roof the rebound of a Jack Johnson shot. The play was reviewed to be sure the puck had crossed the goal line, and a review affirmed that it was a goal, Stoll’s fifth this season. Johnson and Williams got the assists.

Defenseman Willie Mitchell played only two shifts in the period, raising the question of whether he’s injured. The Kings haven’t said anything yet but I’ll pass along whatever information they dole out. Bet on it being either an upper-body injury or a lower-body injury.

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--Helene Elliott

Sports Now
Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

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