Penguins/NHL
Dustin Brown scored with 34 seconds left in overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings (30-30-10) a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins Thursday night. The Kings rallied from two down, to get a much needed win as they’re five points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles travels to Pittsburgh for a matchup against the league’s hottest team Friday night. The Kings will be in another must-win situation.
Don’t expect to see Pittsburgh native John Zeiler in the lineup for the Kings tomorrow night. Zeiler was a scratch once again Thursday night.
The Kings lineup against Boston
Purcell-Kopitar-Brown
Frolov-Stoll-Harrold
Calder-Handzus-Simmonds
Ivanans-Armstrong-Westgarth
Defensemen
O’Donnell-Doughty
Quincey-Johnson
Greene-Gauthier
Jonathan Quick started in goal
Pittsburgh goes into Friday’s game well rested while the Kings will be in their second game of a 6 game road trip. They will be a desperate team who will try to set the tone early in the game.
Two players to keep an eye on will be defensemen Drew Doughty (2008 #2 overall pick) and Jack Johnson (#3 overall pick in 2005)
Anze Kopitar is a great talent but he has yet to take the next step. His stats are down a bit this season (61 points) after a 77 point season. Kopitar has the talent to be a 90 point player and the Kings will be active in free agency pursuing a top tier winger.
Around the League
Alexander Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the season Thursday night. Ovechkin has hit the 50 goal plateau in three out of four seasons.
The Florida Panthers (80 pts) got a much needed win to move within one point of the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.
