LAst Night's Action: Kings Offense Back on Track

LA Kings defeat Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Kings’ head coach Terry Murray kept the same lines from Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Thrashers. Although they didn’t get as many scoring opportunities, the Kings made the most of it in their 4-1 win over the Canucks.

It is their second win over the Canucks in a week’s span helping bolster the confidence for the team.

“These games are so important to get points on the board,” Murray said. “It was physical. It was gritty. It was very determined on both sides. And you do build confidence off of it.”

The Kings had a lot to feel confident about getting their five-on-five play sorted out. It started early when with the puck meandering around the left shootout circle Jack Johnson, the only player in the vicinity, got it and made a shot attempt that Jarret Stoll tipped in on a block 2:48 into the game.

“The Stoll line was maybe our better line out there today,” Murray remarked.

That line of Stoll-Justin Williams-Ryan Smyth was also responsible for the second goal of the game when Smyth fed defenseman Jake Muzzin at the blue line who in turn handed the puck off to a charging Williams who put it right through the five-hole of Canucks’ goalie Roberto Luongo 3:36 in the second period.

“They made good decisions through the middle of the ice and ended up scoring,” Murray said. “Williams’ goal is a nice attack, good attitude, Muzzin jumping up on the play, getting to net, looking for loose pucks. That was a very good read.”

The assist was Muzzin’s first point in the National Hockey League.

“I’ll take the assist,” Muzzin smiled after game.

The game would have been a shutout had it not been for a picture-perfect pass by Henrik Sedin from the right circle to his twin brother Daniel Sedin just to the left of the net who tipped it in 6:53 in the third period. But that didn’t get the Kings down as Anze Kopitar made an equally stellar pass to Dustin Brown right in front of the net just 50 seconds later for the first of Brown’s two goals.

Atlanta Thrashers defeat Anaheim Ducks 5-4 (SO). Despite Anthony Stewart’s has a hat-trick for the Thrashers, the Ducks led 4-2 with ten minutes left in regulation. After a scoreless overtime and first three rounds of the shootout Nigel Dawes got the game winner in the fourth round for the Thrashers.

Seattle Sounders defeat Chivas USA 2-1.

TONIGHT’S ACTION

California Golden Bears (3-2, 1-1 Pac-10) at USC Trojans (4-2, 1-2 Pac-10). 12:30 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 710 KSPN.

Colorado Rapids (42 pts., 11-8-9) at LA Galaxy (56 pts., 17-6-5). 7:30 pm FS Prime Ticket (delayed until 8:30 pm), AM 1150 KTLK, AM 1220 KWKU (en español).