While the bread-and-butter elements of the Kings’ season were clicking once more, the main ingredients in their winning recipe on Wednesday night were an emergent former top prospect and a low-profile fill-in.
An Anze Kopitar goal set up by Drew Doughty, a fortuitous tally by Dustin Brown, two power-play goals and a perfect penalty kill all were part of the mix in their 5-1 victory over the Ducks at Honda Center. But it was another luminous performance by forward Adrian Kempe and a superb game in goal by relative unknown Troy Grosenick that gave the Kings their strongest pinches of flavor.
Kempe was once considered the Kings’ top prospect, but prior to this season, his career was perhaps better than some who held that distinction (like former forward Andrei Loktionov) but probably not up to par with some others (such as forward Brayden Schenn, who went on to become a five-time 20-goal scorer). Kempe’s career-high for goals in a season is 16, but he already has 11 through 25 games in 2021.
Kempe has been the driving force on the third line with industrious, swift running mates Blake Lizotte and Trevor Moore. When asked if he considered moving Kempe up in the lineup, Kings coach Todd McLellan was perplexed.
“Why would we take a hot player and take him away from the stove or the oven where he’s hot?” McLellan said. “The last thing in any of our minds is moving Kempe off that line, at least tonight.”
This season, Kempe has been more efficient and more dangerous on offense and on the power play. In his last three games, he has scored six goals, including two with the man advantage. Kempe scored the overtime game-winner against St. Louis on Saturday to cap an uncommon rally from three goals down. He netted a hat trick in another comeback that fell just short against the Ducks on Monday and nearly notched another hat trick Wednesday.
Perhaps the least predictable element in the Kings’ triumph in the Freeway Faceoff – they earned three of a possible four points while the Ducks gleaned a solitary point from the two games – was goalie Troy Grosenick. He was tabbed at the last moment to start after Cal Petersen went onto the COVID-19 protocol-related absence list Wednesday.
Grosenick, 31, had not played in an NHL game since the last time the Kings mounted a successful three-goal comeback, late in 2014. A magnificent debut for the San Jose Sharks (then coached by McLellan) buoyed his numbers as the years passed, his sample size remained minimal and he plied his trade in North America’s top minor league.
Grosenick seemed well-prepared rather than rusty. He demonstrated poise in the net and positioned himself expertly throughout the night. Out of 34 shots faced, he only saw four second-chance bids off rebounds, and his only goal allowed was on one of 10 high-danger chances the Ducks mustered.
“It was a fun night,” said Grosenick, who lauded the defense in front of him. “Obviously the way it came about wasn’t normal, but we just took it one shot at a time.”
Grosenick said he prepared himself mentally with visualization and breathing exercises, but he also reflected briefly on his long road back to the top level of his craft.
“I said to myself, this is the opportunity you’ve been working for. Now go out, have fun and it’s just another game,” Grosenick said. “I’m sure when I get home I’ll sit down with my wife and we’ll look back on things and that’s when a lot of stuff will really set in.”
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