KINGS TAKE BUZZ OUT OF BUZZARDS Rebounding from a tough loss the week before, the Kings get their game back on track to win second game of season. May 11, 2005- An old friend was back in town Wednesday night when Victor Chavez and the rebuilt Buzzards took on the Kings in the third game of the season. The Buzzards added a few players but still could not take down the Kings. Another old friend, Chris Pusateri, goes between the pipes in the absense of Marty Hoesli. Pusateri was in net when the Kings won the Las Vegas Hockey Classic Championship last March.

For all of the three games this season, the Kings would find themselves playing short once again. But in those three games, the Kings have been able to manage 2 wins and only 1 loss. For the second game in a row, captain Paul Costello was unable to attend the game, while centerman Will Damiter was nursing his foot. And missing the first three games centerman Dave Avila due to suspension dating back last season, and defenceman Tracy Lytle who will miss the season with herniated discs in his back. So what did the Kings have on tap for the game against the Buzzards? Mike Witmer made his season debut on the blueline, providing much needed help with the absence of Costello. Later during the game, Scott Delong was added to the defence playing along with Jared Anderson and Henry Maixner, making the Kings defensive line solid. Up front Palazzolo and Goodey matched, and Field and Young made up the Dave line, with Miller and Brewster centering.

What used to be a major problem for the Kings finally has been put to rest as for the third time this season, the Kings would get on the board first. It has been addressed in the past that the Kings would have to always play from behind, as it took them a while to get kick started, letting up one or two to start the game. But it hasn't happened this season so far. When Palazzolo found the puck, redirecting a pass from Miller four and a half minutes in, the Kings did just that, getting on the board first. It was Palazzolo's second goal of the season. A few minutes later, Maixner blasted the puck from the blueline that sprung off the inside top corner of the net, giving the Kings a 2-0 lead. It was also Maixners second goal of the season. Halfway though the period, the Kings got somewhat of a scare when Mike Witmer when down behind the play, and was in quite some pain. Witmer's knee pad got free and his knee made contact with the ice. Witmer stayed out for most of the remaining time of the period but returned to the ice. Just as one nemisus of the Kings is forgotten, another one appears. For the 5th period in a row, the Kings cannot close the period without letting a goal in. With time expiring in the first period, the Buzzards were swarming around the Kings net. The puck found its way in front of Pusateri, and several wacks at the puck were made by the Buzzards. Pusateri could only hold on for so long, as one of those wacks finally freed the puck and found its way in the net with 1 second left in the period. The period ended with a 2-1 Kings lead.

The Buzzards seemed to pick up some momentum scoring that goal late in the previous period. They put some added pressure on the Kings and was starting to click. However the Kings defense was there to keep most of the scoring chances to the side; and when that didn't work, Pusateri was there to hold the fort between the pipes. Pusateri made several key saves that kept the Kings ahead in the game. With the building Buzzard confidence, the Kings needed to get that next goal. Halfway through the period, Mike Goodey picked off the puck and was off on a breakaway. Goodey, with his patented glove side high shot, put one right there, giving the Kings a 3-1 lead. However a scarry incident happened right after Goodey scored the goal, as he ran right into the goalpost. Luckily Goodey was able to move his head out of the way, giving his shoulder most of the brunt of the collision. Shaken up, Goodey would return to the ice, not missing a shift. With 1 minute left in the second period, the Kings held their breath. Over the span of the last 3 games, and 5 periods, the Kings could not close out the period. Added pressure for the Kings as Mike Goodey was called off on a Hooking call. If the Kings were going to leave the period without a Buzzards goal, they would have to do it on the penalty kill. Not only did the Kings kill the period, but the Buzzards didnt have any clean cut scoring chances, and the Kings broke the spell of a minute left goal, and kept their two goal lead going into the third.

The third period was a defensive battle for both sides. The Kings were able to counter the little momentum that the Buzzards were able to build on. Their top guns were unable to break free from the blue line. When they did, the Kings picked up on the open guys, leaving no opponents to pass to. The Kings held on to defeat Victor Chavez and the Buzzards 3-1.

Next up for the Kings is the number one team in the league. In their first two games of the season, Les Arbitres has put in 16 goals, and letting only 6 goals in. One of their two victores came against Hawk Uniform, last years league champions.