February 1, 2009
by Gann Matsuda
LOS ANGELES — A little over two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Kings were circling the drain as they often do around this time of year, spiraling quickly out of playoff contention.
After their last game at Staples Center before leaving the friendly confines for a three-game road trip, the Kings knew they were about to embark on do-or-die mission to Dallas, Minnesota and Colorado.
“We need to win these next three games, that’s the bottom line,” said left wing Patrick O’Sullivan. “Otherwise, it starts to slip further and further away and it gets to the point where it’s impossible to recover. It’s really important to win these three games and come back with some momentum after the All-Star break.”
“We’ve got to find a way to win,” center Anze Kopitar stressed. “This is a time when teams show what they’re made of. This is going to be the ultimate test for us and we’ve got to respond. This road trip is huge for us. We’ve got to find a way to win.”
Although they lost the first game at Dallas, they earned a point in the standings in the 3-2 shootout loss. And with wins at Minnesota and Colorado, the Kings returned to Los Angeles picking up five out of a possible six points in the standings.
In short, they were still alive. Read more of this post
