Right: Kings Right winger Stefano Palazzolo making a powermove infront of the net late in their opening game of the Las Vegas tournament. Palazzolo is Mr. Vegas, having had very good numbers in past tournaments in Las Vegas - Photo by: Alvin Burk

If the Kings are going to four peat in Las Vegas, they will have to do it with a little bit of help as they dropped their opening game in the tournament 3-2 to the Long Island Grizzlies. Like last year, the Kings started out of the gate slow against a descent, but not great team. The Kings fell 3-0 this morning before they began to get their feet moving.

After both teams exchanged penalties in the opening minutes, the Grizzles would strike first 6 minutes in when Jeremy McGill finished off a great passing play from Mark Levin, tapping in the goal for the 1-0 lead. The Grizzles kept their legs moving and played an aggressive forcheck which caught the Kings offguard. They would be lucky to leave the first only a goal down, but with 30 seconds left Dan Tyler finished a great individual play for Long Island. After throwing the puck on Kings goaltender Lennie Lopez, Tyler picked up his rebound and skated around Lopez for the 2-0 Grizzly lead. 6 combined penalties were called in the first, and the Kings were behind the eight ball early in the tournament.

The Kings would start the second period shorthanded, and the Grizzles took advantage of it with a misque from the Kings. Dennis Fox stripped the puck from Kings defenseman Scotty Delong, who had difficulty controlling the puck. Fox broke in all alone and and beat Lopez stickside for a demanding 3-0 lead. However the Kings came back and with 3 minutes passed in the second, the Kings would get their first goal. After the faceoff was drawed back to Delong, redemption as his shot from the blueline deflected in front of a couple of bodies in front of the net, finding its way in the net for the goal. Then it was the Kings turn to make it work on the powerplay. Dan Coleman's backhand high in the slot found an opening and the Kings were back within one. The Kings were beginning to get their legs back, and it seemed as they tied the game up as the second period was about to end on a controversal play. As Mike Goodey attempted to wrap the puck around behind Long Islands net, the puck hit the boards aquirdley and popped infront of the net where Mike Brewster had a chance to put it in on the gaping opening net. Handcuffed, he got enough to put the puck on net, which bounced several times and seemed to cross the goal line. However there was no referees near the goal to see the puck cross the line, and the Kings still remained down at 3-2. Goodey would have a breakaway as time was ticking, but another 5 seconds would've seen him go in all alone on Grizzlies goaltender Mike Florence, and the Kings would end the second still down, but back in the game at 3-2.

The third period saw more penalties handed out, as the Kings were in the box for 4 penalties and 3 for the Grizzlies. The Kings had their chances in the third, espeically on the powerplay when several great opportunites opened up for them. Halfway through the third, Dan Coleman also broke in alone on Florence, but was stopped when Florence stuffed him with his pillows. 5 minutes left, the Kings were back on the powerplay and several shots came from the top of the slot but either the shots were wide or Florence was there to make the save. The Kings wouldnt get that equalizer, as they fall short 3-2 in the opening game of the tournament.

Already playing a player short this year, the Kings recieved some bad news before the opening game. Kings defenseman Marc McGinnis would not make the trip to Las Vegas with bronchitis. The Kings will need to play their best and get some bounces their way if they are going to prelong this tournament.