Kings Game Report

FIRST PERIOD: KINGS 0, DETROIT 1

Highlight Reel: Tomas Holmstrom, meet Rob Blake. Or rather meet Blake’s stick. There’s more than one way to swat a pest, but Blake’s high stick to the side of Holmstrom’s head put the Kings in a big bind to start Game 3. Jozef Stumpel was already in the penalty box for a debatable roughing penalty, so the Kings would be down two skaters for the next 1:05. The Red Wings, who always seemed to be two skaters up on the Kings in the first two games, needed only 22 seconds to take the lead on Sergei Fedorov’s easy tap-in at the 5:21 mark. Full marks for Holmstrom, who should get his mail delivered to the front of the net because he’s there so often.

Not in the Summary: We’re getting old. We remember when the Forum was fabulous and staples held our homework together. When we did our homework, that is. Tell us, where did this “Let’s Go Kings” business start? Please, it’s “Go Kings Go.” Now get it right for Game 4.

Winning Number: The Red Wings had one quality scoring chance and Fedorov scored. It’s that sort of efficiency that has given Detroit the upper hand in the series.

Wrong Number: Is it impossible for the Kings to stay out of the penalty box? Three more minors killed whatever lift they hoped to gain from the lively sellout crowd of 18,118.

SECOND PERIOD: KINGS 0, DETROIT 2

Highlight Reel: At this point, it’s obvious why the Red Wings are in command. It’s the power play. They have one and the Kings do not. The Kings had every right to wail about the phantom third-period holding call against Mattias Norstrom that led to Nicklas Lidstrom’s back-breaking goal in Game 2. But Bryan Smolinski was as subtle as a jackhammer when he high-sticked Red Wing tough guy Darren McCarty in the face at 14:05. Holmstrom, stationed in his office in front of Stephane Fiset, then deflected Lidstrom’s blue-line blast at 14:40 for a power-play goal and a 2-0 lead.

Not in the Summary: The Red Wings aren’t an easy team to play. But the Kings have two opponents so far in the series--themselves and the Red Wings. It’s tough for even the best teams to win with bullet wounds in both feet. But that has been the Kings’ method of operation so far. What’s more, the Red Wings can afford to play physically because the King power play is so lousy.

Winning Number: After going scoreless on six power-play chances in Game 1, the Red Wings rebounded with three goals with the man advantage in Game 2 and two more in the first two periods of Game 3.

Wrong Number The Kings are 0 for 15 on the power play in two games plus two periods.

THIRD PERIOD: KINGS 1, DETROIT 2

Highlight Reel: Life, at last. The Kings finally gave their fans something to cheer 2:35 into the period. Luc Robitaille sneaked into the slot, accepted a centering pass from Stumpel and the place went bonkers when the puck hit the net. In the end, however, it was too much to expect the Kings to do anything on their punchless power play. Fiset robbed Steve Yzerman with a glove save on a breakaway with 4:55 left. Detroit’s Chris Chelios hooked Garry Galley, freeing Yzerman and the Kings went on the power play one final time. Guess what? Nothing happened. The Kings got only Blake’s long-range slapper from the blue line. No pressure equaled no goals. Is it any wonder the Kings are a game from elimination?

Not in the Summary: The Red Wings covered the Kings with a wet blanket on the final power play. The Red Wings hooked some, held some, and used their speed and their smarts to force the Kings far from the net. Now the series is all but over.

Winning Number: The Red Wings, only the league’s eighth-best penalty-killing unit during the regular season, have blanked the Kings in all 16 short-handed situations so far.

Wrong Number: The Kings are 0 for 16 on the power play. If they had shown the least bit of life with the man advantage, the series might be different today.