Kings Use Power Play to Subdue Vancouver

Showing the initiative, enthusiasm and scoring punch they lacked for much of last season, the Kings capitalized on two late power plays Saturday to pull away from the Vancouver Canucks and maintain a perfect exhibition record.

Jeff Shevalier scored during a five-on-three advantage with 5:03 left in the third period and Petr Klima scored during a five-on-four 35 seconds later to propel the Kings to a 4-3 victory before 6,181 at the Forum for their fourth win in a row.

Rookie Kai Nurminen and right wing Vitali Yachmenev also scored for the Kings against the Canucks (2-2). Vancouver pulled within a goal on a two-man advantage with 1:20 to play, but King goalie Stephane Fiset preserved the victory.

For the second consecutive night, the Kings were involved in a penalty shot. John Slaney converted one for them Friday, but on Saturday one was called against them when a King player covered the puck in the crease at 9:29 of the first period. Canuck defenseman Jyrki Lumme skated in on Fiset until he was about 15 feet out and rifled a shot over the net and off the glass.

The Kings drew their first boos of the season in the first period, when they had a power play and couldn’t get the puck out of their own zone. Nor were fans pleased when the Canucks scored the first goal, 19 seconds into the second period, when Adrian Aucoin flicked a shot past Fiset through a crowd.

However, the fans’ mood improved when the Kings pulled even at 18:44 of the second when Nurminen flicked the puck past Kirk McLean from the right side.