LOS ANGELES—A home victory for the Kings nearly disappeared, but shined when they needed it. Jeff Carter’s overtime goal 28 seconds into the period ended a near disaster giving three unanswered in the final two periods of regulation to win 4-3 at the Staples Center Wednesday night.
After making a slow start in the home opener toNew Yorkon Monday, the Kings offense exploded six minutes into the first quarter, with an unassisted shot from Captain Dustin Brown. Brown returned from the penalty box, and found the glove side of Ottawa netminder, Craig Anderson for his first of the season. Carter notched his third goal in the final seconds of a 5 on 3 where a scramble in front of the Senators net ended with Carter’s second chance putting the Kings ahead by two. Los Angeles third goal came at 17:55, immediately after the end of another 5 on 3 where Brown shot the puck through traffic to score his second and gave the Kings a large margin over Ottawa.
The Senators made their comeback six minutes into the second period with Jean-Gabriel Pageau scoring his first of the season to end the Kings chance for a shutout. Instead they went for the chance to set their captain up for the hat trick, but Anderson’s goaltending said otherwise stopping Carter in the process of reaching that feat.
Former Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan made his return to the Staples Center, a possibility to pull the win from the Kings as he scored eight seconds into their power play of the night to come within a goal. The Kings thought they would win their first regulation game of the season with four and a half minutes left in the third, but a tip in from Milan Michalek, at center made it harder to attain. The Kings who were on the power play would have a man up on Ottawa going into OT.
The Kings first home win came at the end of the expiration of the power play with Mike Richard’s centering shot deflecting off the stick of Carter in front of the net to seal a long overdue win for the fans. The Senators haven’t won at the Staples Center since 2000. The Kings hold a 12-1-1 record against the Atlantic Division team. The Senators were recently left without former captain Daniel Alfredsson and fared well in pushing for an upset. Los Angeles will need to bring the heat on a four game, seven day road trip through the southeast facing Carolina on Friday night.
By Rudy Martinez
