Kings crown Jackets
Columbus visited "Tinsel Town" in hope of two points to help secure a playoff berth in the tough Eastern Conference. The Kings were just hoping to shake their two game losing streak and right their ship leading into the playoffs.
It was the 'Jackets that jumped out to an early lead, in fact Columbus scored three in the first to take a huge lead, thanks to goals by Jarret Stoll (15th) as he snapped a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky at 3:05, just 1:33 after that Jason Spezza scored his 13th as he deposited a Cory Conacher shot that had missed the net and bounced right to him at the side of the net. Jussi Jokinen (15th) at 14:07 made it 3-0 after twenty minutes and the fans in the Thunderdome were considering making it an early night as the Kings hadn't given them much to cheer about as they were out-shot 13-4.
Brian Flynn (8th) got L.A on the board at 12:14 on the powerplay as he blew a slapper past the out-stretched hand of Michael Leighton in net for Columbus. It took almost two full period but the Kings gave their faithful something to cling to as they outshot the Jackets 16-6 in the middle period.
Columbus would take back to back late third period penalties and the Kings would capitalize on both chances, making it 3 for 3 on the night with the extra attacker, goals by David Legwand (10th) 17:33 and Blake Wheeler (19th) with just seven seconds remaining in the game sent it into extra time.
Nothing was settled in overtime so off to the shoot-out, where Mikko Koivu scored for LA and completed the improbable comeback as he skated in on Bobrovsky and went backhand-forehand, between the legs and left Bobs out on no man's land.
The Kings fans gave the team a 10 minute standing ovation and were heard to be chanting "Wayne who" as they exited.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Jason Spezza (Clb)......... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2
2 - David Legwand (LA )........ 1 goal, 1 assist
3 - Jussi Jokinen (Clb)........... 1 goal, +2
Reporting For The WCHL Network......
Peter Puck
