KINGS GAME REPORT

FIRST PERIOD: KINGS 3, DETROIT4

Highlight Reel: The Red Wings are a pretty good team on their own. They don’t need a lot of help to win, but the Kings gave it to them anyway. Three giveaways in the first 3:32 led to three Detroit goals. Defenseman Garry Galley whiffed on a clearing attempt from the left-wing boards. Vyacheslav Kozlov picked off the pass, fired a hard low shot that Stephane Fiset stopped, but the second of two rebound tries by Brendan Shanahan hit the back of the net 55 seconds into the game. Martin Lapointe and Kris Draper also pounced on poor clearing passes to score and Detroit seemed on the verge of a blowout after only 3 1/2 minutes.

Not in the Summary: Only determined work in front of Detroit goalie Chris Osgood kept the Kings in the game. Unlike Game 1, the Kings crashed the net and cashed in three ugly goals. They also exposed Osgood as the poor puck-handler he is. More pressure equals more scoring chances against Osgood. By the end of the period, it appeared the Kings had momentum for the first time in the series.

Winning Number: After getting only 19 shots in Game 1, the Kings hammered 21 on net in the first period. They also outshot the Red Wings, 15-2, in the final 13:04.

Wrong Number: Three errant passes in their own end were three too many for the Kings, who needed a flawless performance.

SECOND PERIOD: KINGS 4, DETROIT 6

Highlight Reel: Here’s why defensemen not named Bobby Orr let forwards lead odd-man rushes: Early in the period, King defenseman Sean O’Donnell raced into the Detroit zone with two teammates trailing the play. But O’Donnell waited too long to pass or shoot. The Red Wings swiped the puck and Draper made the Kings pay by whistling a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle past Fiset for a 5-3 Detroit lead at 3:27. Draper had five goals in 51 regular-season games, but scored twice before the game was 24 minutes old. Fiset then went to the bench in favor of Jamie Storr after giving up five goals on 17 shots.

Not in the Summary: The Kings probably kicked themselves all the way back to L.A. They did a credible job of making Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom and Steve Yzerman (back after missing Game 1 because of flu) disappear. But Draper (two goals) and Lapointe (three) killed the Kings through two periods.

Winning Number: The Kings failed to apply pressure the way they did in the first period, getting only 10 shots on Osgood in the second. Good news for the rebounding Red Wings.

Wrong Number On the other hand, the Kings gave up 18 shots, far too many if they had hoped to rally. Also good news for Detroit.

THIRD PERIOD: KINGS 5, DETROIT 8

Highlight Reel: Ziggy Palffy roared into the Detroit zone, fanned on his first try from point-blank range, but scored on his second to cut the King deficit to 6-5 at 1:11. Bryan Smolinski whipped a wide-open shot from the slot off target only moments later. And soon after that, Bob Corkum fired a shot inches wide. Then referee Kerry Fraser put his whistle to his lips and halted the Kings’ momentum. Fraser sent defenseman Mattias Norstrom to the penalty box for holding Fedorov in the neutral zone. Multiple replays indicated only that Fedorov got high marks from an international panel of judges for his Greg Louganis impersonation. Lidstrom’s power-play goal gave Detroit a 7-5 lead, breaking the Kings’ spirits.

Not in the Summary: Fraser is one of the few referees in the NHL willing to make a marginal call late in a game. But he should have stuffed his whistle in his pocket on this one. Norstrom must be allowed to hold up a hard-charging Fedorov in that situation.

Winning Number: After going scoreless on six power-play chances in Game 1, the Red Wings were 3 for 7 with the man advantage in Game 2.

Wrong Number: The Kings were scoreless on six power-play chances and are 0 for 9 after two games.