Can the Los Angeles Kings' Powerplay Surge Outshine the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center?

The Los Angeles Kings, with a record of 2-1, edged out the New Jersey Devils in a closely contested match that ended 2-1. The Kings' victory was bolstered by their effective powerplay and solid defense, which proved to be decisive against the Devils' efforts.

At Prudential Center in Newark, fans witnessed an intense battle where both teams were locked in a defensive struggle during the first period. The Kings broke through in the second period with a critical powerplay goal, capitalizing on one of their four opportunities to take control of the game. Their special teams shone as they converted 25 percent of their powerplays into goals.

The Los Angeles Kings demonstrated resilience and tactical acumen by also scoring shorthanded, showcasing their ability to capitalize on every situation presented to them. This shorthanded goal was one of two shots taken under such circumstances throughout the game. The team's overall shooting percentage stood at seven percent as they managed to net two goals from 29 shots.

Defensively, the Kings were formidable; they blocked an impressive total of 13 shots and delivered 20 hits over three periods. Their goaltender played an instrumental role with a perfect save percentage, stopping all but one of the 27 shots faced.

On faceoffs, Los Angeles showed dominance by winning more than half (57 percent) against New Jersey's faceoff win percentage of just 43 percent. This control over puck possession contributed significantly to maintaining pressure on their opponents and managing game tempo.

The New Jersey Devils put up a strong fight despite falling short on home ice. They matched Los Angeles hit for hit with a total count of 20 and blocked more shots (21). However, their lone goal came from converting one out five powerplay opportunities—a stark contrast to LA's efficiency when playing with an advantage.

As for penalties, both teams spent time in sin bin; however it was LA who had more minor penalties totaling six instances resulting in twelve penalty minutes compared to New Jersey’s five penalties amounting ten minutes.

Looking ahead for Los Angeles fans eager for more action-packed games: The next challenge awaits as the Los Angeles Kings will visit TD Garden to face off against Boston Bruins on February 17th at noon Eastern Time (ET). Fans can catch this encounter live nationally on ABC or stream it via ESPN+.