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Kings Struggle to Solve Demko, Lose 3-2 in Shootout to Canucks

Blink and you would have missed a first period that took just 24 minutes of real time.

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It's not often that a game where you outshoot a team 40-14 through 60 minutes goes to overtime, and even less frequently do you lose that game.

But that's exactly what happened to the Los Angeles Kings in their 3-2 shootout loss against the Vancouver Canucks.

A Quick First 20:

Blink and you would have missed a first period that took just 24 minutes of real time. There were just eight faceoffs in the whole period, of which the Kings won five of eight.

The Kings dominated possession in the first, outshooting the Canucks 11-4 and out-chanced the Canucks 2-1.

Despite the dominance in possession, the Canucks took the lead just over ten minutes in with their second shot of the game. 

Brock Boeser game down the wing and put a long-range shot on net that deflected off Alex Edler's stick which fooled Joonas Korpisalo. 

After the goal the Kings continued to dominate the game and took the momentum back. 

With just over three minutes left, Gabe Vilardi pounced on a Quinn Hughes whiff at the point to drive at the Canucks defense. Coming in one-on-two, Vilardi stopped up just inside the blue line to wait for support.

Vilardi was able to make a move around the Canucks backchecker and slide the puck into the path of Alex Edler who snapped home his second of the season against his former team. 

The Kings have scored four goals in the second period of their last two games and will be hoping for another big period from their offense.

Kings Continue Their Dominance:

The second period was similar to the first. Possession and shot dominance from the Kings.

They outshot the Canucks 12-2 in the second and out-chanced them 6-3.

The Kings would take the lead late in the period, with the fourth line staying hot.

Arthur Kaliyev fed Rasmus Kupari in the slot, who then one touched the puck to Grundstrom back door. Kupari's pass was in Grundstrom's feet, but had enough on it to bounce off Grundstrom and into the net.

Adrian Kempe was hauled down on the breakaway and received a penalty shot, but had his go-to five hole move stuffed by Thatcher Demko.

The Kings went on a power play shortly after but got nothing out of it, 

Despite dominating through two period, the Kings held just a one-goal lead.

Kings Can't Hold Their Lead:

 The Kings dominance didn't stop in the third. But their lead was taken away.

After outshooting the Canucks heavily in the first half of the period, but couldn't beat Demko, and then took a penalty.

On the ensuing power play, Elias Pettersson sniped Korpisalo low glove to tie the game.

After that goal, the Canucks took the momentum and looked like the more likely team to win down the stretch.

They couldn't take the lead though and the game would need overtime.

The Kings guarantee themselves points in nine straight games.

Vancouver Takes Over Overtime:

After dominating through 60 minutes, the Kings had nothing in overtime.

They failed to register a shot and spent most of the overtime period playing in their own zone. 

Despite not having much work in regulation, Korpisalo faced a few high quality chances and stuff them all, sending the game into a shootout.

Demko Keeps the Door Shut:

Demko's fantastic night didn't stop after 65 minutes either. He stopped Trevor Moore's shootout attempt and forced Vilardi into shooting wide.

Korpisalo was beat by both Canucks shooters, handing the Kings their second shootout loss in the last 10 games.

 

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