Drew Doughty’s Buzzer Beater Gives the Kings a 3-2 Win over Columbus

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Staples Center was antsy on Wednesday night. With the Kings struggling to put away the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets at home for the second time in a month, there was a restless vibe inside the arena, and on Twitter. While it seemed as though fans were more concerned with matching the San Jose Sharks’ 6-0 thrashing of the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, the team on the ice played in typical Kings fashion, with short spurts of solid play sandwiched between stretches of sloppiness, before Drew Doughty was able to light the lamp in controversial style, in the final second of regulation.

The Kings took complete advantage of their third and final power play, after Columbus’s Samuel Pahlsson was called for holding with 1:06 left of a 2-2 game. After losing the puck off the draw and Columbus clearing it, the Kings struggled to set up the power play until the final moments, when they were able to fire from the point. With five seconds left, Doughty took the puck from the blueline, across to Anze Kopitar at the point, who fired a shot into the crease. Doughty, skating into slot was in the right place at the right time, as the puck squeaked free to the defenseman, and just far enough for him put a stick on it and slap it past goalie Curtis Sanford.

But while Doughty celebrated the goal a la Zach Parise in the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal Game, there was nothing but confusion elsewhere. The horn sounded, but the clock showed nothing but zeros and some of the Blue Jackets were walking into the locker room tunnel while others remained on the ice. The goal was reviewed and confirmed, even though the referee never pointed to center ice, as the only clue that game was over was The Briggs blaring over the PA.

Despite the goal counting, the Columbus Blue Jackets have presented that case that the clock stopped briefly with 1.8 seconds to go, leaving the Kings with more time to play with. Given that the puck crossed the goal mouth with 0.4 seconds left, any hiccup to the clock would hint towards a possible gifted goal. But with the final smidgen of time ending up being forgoed by the on-ice referee, the Kings won’t feel the slightest bit guilty, given the instances of Toronto’s war room coming back to haunt the Kings multiple times in the last couple of seasons.

As for the rest of the game before the Doughty goal, it was simply a frustrating game for the Kings. They looked strong on the counter attack with several odd man rushes, but couldn’t finish. Dustin Penner set up Jarret Stoll who hit the post in the first period, and the Loktionov line should have gotten on the board more than once, as they failed to capitalize on three great scoring chances, including a whiff from Trevor Lewis and a weak shot attempt from Brad Richardson in the second period. The Kings were getting their shots and using the body, but just seemed struggle to keep up a tactical pace offensively as each scoring chance was generated from a Columbus turnover or breakout that began deep in the Kings zone. Having just three power plays throughout the game didn’t help the Kings lack of offensive cohesion, and in looking at the goals, it was clear that the Kings benefited from slick wrists and lucky bounces.

Justin Williams scored in the first period on a quick wrister from the left circle on a pass from Drew Doughty to open the scoring in the first. In the second period, Dustin Penner created his own gem of a goal by forcing a turnover at the Columbus blueline and snapping a puck past Sanford in what will probably go down as the sexiest goal Penner’s had as a King. So for as beautiful as the elevated wrist shots were from Williams and Penner, the Kings slew of telegraphed and tentative passes kept the forecheck handcuffed all night long. In the end however, the Kings did outshoot the Blue Jackets 33-22 and escaped with a win, which is really all the Kings could ask for as they head into the 6-game GRAMMY Trip.

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