Kings Find Good Signs
(from the Daily News)
By Matt McHale
Staff Writer
November 12, 2001 - With a cut on his nose and 10 stitches in his knee, Ian Laperriere never looked happier.
Long after most of his teammates had left Staples Center on Saturday night, Laperriere sat half-dressed at his locker talking about the Kings' inspired 3-2 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
"The man I feel best for right now is Felix Potvin," Laperriere said of the Kings' embattled goaltender. "We have given him no support all year. I think he's been great. The problem has been us. Hopefully, we've broken out of it."
Until Eric Belanger scored at the 3:41 mark of the third period after a pretty drop pass from Laperriere, the Kings were the same frustrating team that had dropped six of their past seven.
In the game's final 20 minutes, including 3:33 of overtime, the Kings scored three times, more than they had scored in all but four of their games this season.
And though the Red Wings tired at the end after playing back-to-back nights, the Kings (5-9-1-2) think they saw some good signs heading into a tough stretch of games.
"We have Dallas, then back to Detroit to begin a four-game trip with some tough games in Canada," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "But we saw some good things out of Ziggy Palffy, and I thought Jason Allison was better. Our difference-makers made a big difference."
In his first game since missing two weeks with back spasms, Palffy scored the game-winner on a breakaway with less than two minutes left in OT. Bryan Smolinski, another slumping player, intercepted a Red Wings pass in the Kings' end and found Palffy alone at the other end.
Palffy said after the game his back is fine. He and Allison also assisted on Adam Deadmarsh's go-ahead goal with 8:09 left in regulation.
The Kings kept up the pressure at both ends. Detroit had just three shots in the third period and none in overtime.
"With the game in Anaheim the night before, I think we were a little out of gas," former King Luc Robitaille said. "And the ice was terrible, especially at the end. But that goes both ways. We'll see them again next week."
The Kings will face the Red Wings three times in their first 19 games, including next Saturday in Detroit. After playing in Minnesota two days later, the Kings will face surprising Calgary and Edmonton, the top two teams in the Northwest Division.
"But don't forget Dallas (on Thursday)," Laperriere said. "Beating the Red Wings is only important if we beat the Stars and keep this going."