Takeaways: LA Kings 3, Canucks 0 – A big win

After losing three straight, the LA Kings found the win column with a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

None

Second period: 

LAK: Arthur Kaliyev (13), ASST: Blake Lizotte (23), Alex Iafallo (22)

Third period:

LAK: Vladislav Gavrikov (6), ASST: Trevor Moore (19), Phillip Danault (36)

LAK: EN Drew Doughty (9), ASST: None

Stats

Goals:

VAN: 0

LAK: 3

Shots:

VAN: 20

LAK: 28

Power-plays:

VAN: 0/2

LAK: 0/1

Here are the takeaways from Monday’s victory:

Korpisalo records his first shutout as a King

It was a big win for the LA Kings after losing three straight and keeping pace with the Seattle Kraken for the third spot in the division (more on that later). It was also a good bounce-back victory for goaltender Joonas Korpisalo who gave up five goals in his last start against the Vegas Golden Knights. While his workload wasn’t big like the Vegas game early on, he did come up with some big saves when needed. His biggest save came on a JT Miller breakaway around the midway point in the second period with the Kings shorthanded.

The shutout by Korpisalo was his first as a King.

Toughness

The Kings are a team that relies on structure and the skillset of some of their forwards. They’re not a team that is going to outhit their opponent. Lately, they have been pushed around and some fans have called the team out for their lack of toughness. When Mikey Anderson received a hit from behind by Connor McDavid nearly two weeks ago, there was no response from anyone. In the last game against Colorado, Andrew Cogliano hit Adrian Kempe up high which drew a response from the Kings players on the ice. When asked about the hit after the game Kempe wasn’t pleased with it.

With fans questioning their lack of toughness lately, the Kings answered back twice when being pushed around. While the Kings were outhit 38-19, Sean Durzi and Kempe dropped the gloves against Sheldon Dries and JT Miller in the second period, getting the crowd riled up. Durzi’s fight seemed to give the Kings energy as the intensity picked up from there.

Standings watch

With the victory, the Kings maintained their two-point lead over the Kraken in the standings, who defeated the Arizona Coyotes earlier in the evening. The Kings are in third place in the Pacific Division with 102 points, while the Kraken hold that first wild card spot with 100 points. The Kraken hold the tiebreaker, meaning if they end the regular season with the same number of points as the Kings, then they get third place, and the Kings occupy that first wild card spot.

The Kraken have two games remaining (both against Vegas), while the Kings have one (against Anaheim). The Kings will need some help from Vegas in one if not both games. The Kings and Kraken will be fighting for the third spot in the division while the Golden Knights and Oilers will fight for the division title.

This should be fun, right?

UP NEXT: The LA Kings conclude their regular season in Anaheim on Thursday night. The game starts at 7 pm PT and can be seen on Bally Sports West.

Featured image credit: (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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