KINGS FADE VS. OILERS LETHARGIC L.A. LOSES TO TEAM IT CHASES IN WEST EDMONTON 2, KINGS 0.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer EDMONTON, Alberta - Andy Murray calls it paying the mortgage. Outhustling, outchancing, outcliche-ing opponents doesn't matter any more. Victories are the only currency that counts now, and the Kings didn't get one Thursday. Three days after an inspiring victory over San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , the Kings went quietly in a 2-0 loss to the streaking Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). , a team they desperately are trying to catch in the Western Conference. Jason Allison Jason Paul Allison (born May 29 1975, in North York, Ontario) is a professional ice hockey centre in the NHL, who is currently an unrestricted free agent. Playing career Allison attended Humber Summit Middle School and Emery Collegiate Institute in North York. , who beat the Sharks with the game-winner in overtime, looked more like the player who has missed more than half the Kings' games with a knee injury rather than the catalyst who can help them reach the playoffs. And as it has been since Adam Deadmarsh Adam Deadmarsh (born May 10, 1975 in Trail, British Columbia) is a former National Hockey League hockey player who played for the 1996 Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup winning team. , Bryan Smolinski Bryan Smolinski (b. December 27 1971 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. Playing career Smolinski grew up in suburban Northwest Ohio and played for the Michigan State Spartans. and Eric Rasmussen Eric Rasmussen (born March 22, 1952 in Appleton, Wisconsin), is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975-83. Teams
``The other night looked like a turning point and it didn't work out that way,'' defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich said. ``We are still very focused, very positive. This game was 1-0 midway through the third period and anything could have happened. You don't give up on that.'' But it is hard to ignore that the Kings are heading in the wrong direction. Last season, things began to take shape in December and by January they were in full throttle Full Throttle can refer to:
This January, the Kings (18-20-4-3) are 2-6 and only the Sharks' 2-2 tie Thursday against Buffalo kept the Kings from dropping into 11th place in the West. Behind Tommy Salo's 34th career shutout, the Oilers (22-14-5-5) beat the Kings for the second time in a week. Edmonton, 5-1-1 in its last seven games, remains seventh in the conference, now a whopping 11 points ahead of the Kings. Salo barely was tested until the third period when the Kings had 12 of their 22 shots. That made goals by Shawn Horcroff in the first period and Ryan Smith For the hockey player see Ryan Smyth. Ryan Smith may refer to:
The Oilers scored first at 15:38 of the first period. To that point, Allison was carrying the action. But Edmonton moved the puck into the Kings' zone and the defense seemed content to watch Horcroff move in and fire a wrist shot wrist shot n. A quick shot made in hockey by snapping the wrists forward with the puck against the stick blade. from 15 feet out that beat goaltender Felix Potvin Félix "The Cat" Potvin (born June 23, 1971 in Anjou, Quebec, Canada) is currently a free-agent professional NHL goaltender. Potvin currently lives with his family in Magog, Quebec. for a 1-0 lead. Even though the game was close on the scoreboard, it didn't seem so tight on the ice. The Kings killed off a four-minute high sticking penalty on Craig Johnson Craig Johnson may refer to:
Eventually, the Oilers scored again, this time at 9:22 of the third period. It was a dagger. Todd Marchant intercepted a pass between Ziggy Palffy and Lubomir Visnovsky in the Oilers' zone and moved up ice. Marchant, who had two goals and two assists against Columbus, got the puck to Smyth, who suddenly was in open ice. He carried the puck into the Kings' zone and found there was no one helping out on defense. The only player he had to beat was Palffy and that was easy. Smyth skated in on net and froze Potvin. He faked a shot as Potvin dropped to the ice and poked in a backhand for his team-high 19th goal. The final 10 minutes seemed like a nightmare. Murray was trying to call a timeout when Steve Staios tripped Steve Heinze skating in on net. Murray never got the call. Late in the game, Murray was trying to pull his goaltender for an extra skater, but the Kings were whistled for a questionable icing call. The faceoff went back to the Kings' end, the extra attacker was waved off and Potvin returned to the ice. ``Sometimes you just have bad luck,'' Yushkevich said. ``Sometimes there are bad calls against you.'' And sometimes your best player is not your best player. Allison came alive late in the San Jose game and carried it into Thursday night. He didn't have a shot in the first period, but his line pressured Salo. But when the effort did not translate into a goal, the Kings' top unit disappeared. Allison had one shot in the game. Palffy had two. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Kings' Erik Rasmussen slaps at the puck Thursday as Edmonton goalie Tommy Salo sprawls out. John Ulan/Associated Press |
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