Kings leave them struck in middle

VANCOUVER, Canada -- The fearsome-looking wave of Canucks blue -- yes, that’s an accurate description of a two-on-none for a goalie -- bore down on Jason LaBarbera about a minute and a half into the second period.

Automatic goal for the Canucks?

Not quite. Maybe it was cosmic justice, since even the most nondescript plays have turned disastrous for the Kings. Maybe it was time for what looked like a gimme to not go in the net.

And that’s what happened. LaBarbera, who grew up in this area and needed to secure 17 tickets for friends and family, made the save on Alex Burrows, and a little more than a minute and a half later the Kings broke through when defenseman Jack Johnson scored his first NHL goal, finishing off a two-on-one with Kyle Calder to tie the score, 1-1.

Two more second-period goals would follow -- Michael Cammalleri (his eighth) on the power play, taking three unfettered whacks at the puck before it went in, and Alexander Frolov (his first) -- and the Kings held on in the third, beating the Canucks, 4-2, Friday night at GM Place. The final Kings goal came from Dustin Brown, who was yanked down driving for an empty net with 21.5 seconds left, after the Canucks had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

“That was huge,” Kings Coach Marc Crawford said of LaBarbera’s stop. “If they get a two-goal lead . . . our frame of mind right now . . .”

He didn’t need to finish that thought.

Said LaBarbera, who faced 28 shots: “I was playing pass the whole way. In those situations you almost have to. I kind of read it coming and just waited for him [Henrik Sedin] to pass.”

The hot seat in goal for the Kings is wide open, and everyone knows it. Last season, five goalies took a shot at it and none of them are around. Rookie Jonathan Bernier is back with his junior team, and J.S. Aubin struggled in Calgary on Thursday.

LaBarbera came on in relief of Aubin in the third period of that game and was flawless in the final 20 minutes. Perhaps middle relief was the way to go.

“Sometimes, it’s just what you need almost, if you’re struggling at times,” he said. “During a game, you don’t have anything to lose. I just felt good last night and it carried over to tonight.”

He is aware the No. 1 job is prime for the taking.

“Yeah, it was probably there all training camp too,” LaBarbera said. “I know it’s there, an opportunity for me. I’ve been working hard. I struggled a bit early. I hope I can build off this and go from here because I know I’m capable of going out and doing it.”

The Kings’ 3-6 record can now be analyzed with a real-time view of two victories in their last three games. Their only loss in that stretch, in Calgary, featured perhaps their best period of the season, the first, followed by a lousy second period and strong third.

Friday, big saves weren’t the only moments of motivation. Kings veteran forward Michal Handzus blocked two shots on the same shift on the penalty-killing unit early in the first period. He returned to the bench in visible pain.

“It really lifts up your bench,” Crawford said. “I could see our bench really jumping and being inspired by those types of performances. Sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s a fight, sometimes it’s a goal. Tonight it was a blocked shot that really got us going.”

Said Johnson: “It was awesome to see a guy like that, hurt and blocking shots. It gives everyone a lift and inspires everyone.”

Johnson was named the game’s first star and logged an impressive 25 minutes 3 seconds of ice time, game-high for the Kings. He was beaming about the goal and relieved he put it past goaltender Roberto Luongo.

“I saw Calder got a break and I jumped up on the two on one,” Johnson said. “I knew he [Calder] was going to get it across. I was just worried I was going to screw it up or something and I wouldn’t hear the end of it. Once it went in, it was just an unbelievable feeling because I had been pressing a little bit. It was great to get the first one.”

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com