Kings vs Ducks Game 4: Nobody Missed You, January

So, the LA Kings out-attempted the Anaheim Ducks 71–36 but lost the game 2–0, allowing rookie goaltender John Gibson to earn a shutout in his first career playoff start.

Cool.

Fans have been waiting to see the Kings figure out how to dominate in possession and scoring chances again all series. They finally do it but can’t manage to find the back of the net. Sure, Gibson was good, but there were more than a couple wide-open net opportunities where he was out of position that the Kings just couldn’t bury as well.

It’s also worth noting that the Kings didn’t truly pick up their game until the second period, after coach Darryl Sutter pulled Jonathan Quick and played Martin Jones. Quick allowed goals on both of the Ducks’ power plays in the first period. During his post-game interview, captain Dustin Brown said he thought the switch was more about waking up the Kings’ skaters than Quick’s performance. It seemed to work. The Ducks had no shots on goal throughout the second period and only three in the third, two of which came during a four-minute power play after Anze Kopitar took a double minor for high-sticking Andrew Cogliano and drawing blood.

By the end of the game, the even strength Fenwick chart looked like this:

However, special teams struggles had already put the Kings down two goals, and then their own power play was a momentum killer that didn’t help them gain back any ground. The Anaheim Ducks stole game 4, and now the Kings head back to Honda Center with the series tied 2–2.

The only bit of happiness for Kings fans might’ve been seeing Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski get smashed in the face with pies for losing a bet that the San Jose Sharks would win the first round.