Share on Facebook

Tweet

The Kings needed 1 more victory to officially put their name into the championship game bracket against Jokers this Sunday at Anaheim Ice. 1 more big game and they would have a chance to play for their third title and their first since 2002. The Kings would face a Last Call team who were not mathematically eliminated from the championship game, but were a long shot to make it. Winners of their last 2 against the Kings, they would come out hard against them. However the Kings put up one of their best team performances of the year to insure that Last Call didn't put the last round on them.

Both teams started the game, playing a tight and responsible game. Each team was waiting for the other to make the first mistake, yet either side broke for most of the first period. With less than 3 minutes to play, it could have looked like an innocent play ended up turning out to be huge for the Kings. A Kings 2-2 rush resulted in Stefano Palazzolo's second goal of the playoffs and the Kings first goal of the night. Tracy Lytle carried the puck on the left side, passing it up to Palazzolo and picking the top right corner with a nice shot. "It was a great feeling--it was nice to get our team on the board first. It was an important goal," recalls Palazzolo. The Kings would end the first period with the all important 1-0 lead.

In the second period, the Kings wanted to focus on what made them successful in the first--great puck support in their own end. However failure to clear the puck out of their own end resulted in a Last Call's first goal of the game by their leading goal scorer Alex Pirro just 29 seconds into the period. But the Kings would respond with 3 goals in the period, including 2 from special teams. Mike Goodey would regain the Kings lead at 2-1 with his first of the night. It was Goodey's 6th goal of the playoffs. 8:34 into the period, Last Call would be sent off for a tripping call and the Kings first powerplay of the night. The Kings would activate all 5 guys on the ice with great puck movement, and get a beautiful one time goal from Frankie Negrette to gain a 2 goal lead at 3-1. The Kings would find themselves into some trouble with a parade of penalties towards the end of the second period. It was the start of 6 consecutive calls against the Kings, including a 2 man advantage for Last Call to end the second period. However it was Mike Goodey's shorthanded goal with 1:31 left in the second that took the sail out of Last Call. Palazzolo would chip the puck off the boards, and Goodey was off and alone on Last Call's goaltender Eric Anderson. Goodey would deke and wrap the puck around the leg pad of the sprawled out Anderson, who gave little room for the puck to squeeze by, and the Kings took all the momentum and a commanding 4-1 lead into the last period of play.

The Kings would have to yet fight off the remaining time from the second period, and 3 more additional penalties in the third to avoid Last Call from getting back into this game. The Kings were successful in the penalty kill, killing all 6 Last call power plays. Last Call was able to add 1 more goal in the third when Kjell Albihn's shot deflected off of Tracy Lytle and into his own net, but solid team play was able to stage off any comeback. The Kings would take care of business, downing Last Call 4-2.

The Kings potentially avoided disaster when they stopped Last Call with a perfect penalty kill for the night. On top of it, they added a short handed goal as well. "It was a huge goal-- We had a 2 goal advantage and they were on the powerplay and it was a big blow for them, to be down another goal, instead of cutting the deficit to one," says Mike Goodey on scoring the short handed goal late in the second period.

For the Kings, a complete team effort was needed to take down Last Call, and a team effort they got. From a great performance in net, to solid defense from every defenseman; And great possession and puck support from the forwards completed a dominate game from the Kings. “We played well as a unit. That’s what it’s going to take to win in this league. We came back and supported each other,” says Kevin Costello. “We talked to each other and made thing s easier for each other. We communicated with each other.” “Mike Goodey added, "It was one of the best games the team has played all season long. Hard forchecking, great passing and good breakouts. We were supporting each other."

The Kings also continued to get a great game from Stefano Palazzolo, who was the number 2 star of the game. His 1 goal and assist wrapped up an impressive season, where it has showed that he has been playing with confidence. "The game slowed down for me as the season went on. Seemed like everyone was getting slower on the ice," stated Palazzolo. During the regular season, Palazzolo put up the most points for his personal career since 2002-03.

The Kings are now 1 win away from claiming the championship. They will face the Jokers this Sunday at 3:15 at Anaheim Ice. They have been impressive so far this postseason, but must continue to play their game for 1 more performance to capture the title--their first since the 2001-2002 season.