(Sports Network) - It took longer than expected but the defending Stanley Cup
champion Los Angeles Kings won their first game of the season over the
weekend.
The Kings will try to make it two in a row when they host the Vancouver
Canucks on Monday in a rematch of a 2012 playoff series.
After posting a 16-4 record in last year's playoffs en route to the
franchise's first Stanley Cup title, the Kings began this lockout-shortened
campaign with an 0-2-1 mark. However, Los Angeles finally earned two points in
Saturday's 4-2 win at Phoenix.
Anze Kopitar scored twice to help the Kings get off the schneid. Jake Muzzin
added a goal and an assist while Jeff Carter also scored for the Kings.
Muzzin's goal was the first of his NHL career but it wasn't exactly one for
the highlight reel.
"It was one of those hope wristers that floated through and made it through,"
Muzzin said.
Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe for his brilliant play in the 2012
postseason, made 32 saves to improve his record to 1-2-1 on the year.
Los Angeles began its championship run last spring by ousting the top-seeded
Canucks from the playoffs in five games and Monday's tilt is the first meeting
between the clubs since that postseason series.
The Canucks have won four of the last six meetings in the regular season.
Vancouver fell to 2-2-1 on the season following Sunday's loss in San Jose
Joe Pavelski scored a pair of goals to help lift the Sharks to the 4-1
victory.
Alexandre Burrows registered the lone Vancouver goal, while Cory Schneider
surrendered all four goals on 27 shots for the Canucks, who went 0-for-7 on
the power play.
"Power play wasn't as good," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "We were
unable to score. A couple of unforced errors that ended up right on their tape
and in the back of the net. What's important is how we responded, and I
thought we responded very well."
Schneider is 2-2-0 with a 3.13 goals against average this season. With
Vancouver playing the second part of a back-to-back on Monday, Canucks backup
Roberto Luongo could get his second start of the season.
Monday's test marks the end of a three-game road trip for Vancouver. The
Canucks are 1-1-0 as the guest this season after posting a 24-12-5 road record
in 2011-12.
The Sports Network