The first shot for the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night came on a breakaway for Derek Armstrong. Washington Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore made the save, but it was a sign of things to come.
Kings players had several solo chances against Theodore in the first two periods, and the defensive breakdowns led to three Los Angeles goals in a 5-4 victory against the Caps at sold-out Verizon Center.
“The first two periods was as bad as we’ve played all year,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I don’t like to use the word ’sleepy,’ but we weren’t paying attention at all. They’ve got good speed, and they were coming up the middle well, but our guys - looking at the tape already - we were all over the place. We weren’t playing anywhere near what we were supposed to be doing.”
Anze Kopitar had two goals and set up another for the Kings, who despite beginning the night in 12th place in the Western Conference defeated the Caps for the second time this season. Jonathan Quick made 41 saves for Los Angeles to help his team withstand a furious rally in the final moments.
Alex Ovechkin netted his 200th career goal 10:32 into the final period to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Kyle Calder restored Los Angeles’ lead with 1:33 remaining. Brooks Laich tipped in a shot from Mike Green 27 seconds later, but the Caps could not produce the equalizer.
“It shouldn’t have come to that,” Green said. “We’re that kind of team that when we need a goal, we can get one, but we ran out of time.”
Not only did the Caps lose for the first time in four games, they also found out they will be without backup goalie Brent Johnson for a while. Johnson will have surgery Monday or Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his hip.
Johnson has been dealing with the injury for a couple of months. A team spokesman said he is expected to be out six to eight weeks, though Johnson said the time frame could vary depending on the severity of the tear.
“It just wasn’t cooperating,” he said. “It is something that needs to be done. I just want to get it better and go from there.”
Alexander Semin gave the Caps the lead with the fastest goal to open a game by the team this season. Laich outmuscled Los Angeles defenseman Matt Greene for the puck behind the net and sent a pass in front to Semin, who one-timed it in 15 seconds after the opening faceoff for his 20th of the year.
Kopitar’s first goal of the night leveled the score at 1-1 during a five-on-three power play for Los Angeles. With David Steckel and Shaone Morrisonn in the penalty box, Kopitar put a shot from near the right circle inside the far post, with Alexander Frolov providing a screen of Theodore.
Kopitar topped Semin’s quick tally with a goal 13 seconds into the second period. He brought the puck across the blue line and, after sending it to Frolov, took the second half of a give-and-go and was all alone. He went to the net and scored his 14th of the year.
Michal Handzus added a short-handed score 49 seconds later. Frolov leaked out of the defensive zone and collected a pass from Sean O’Donnell. Theodore stopped Frolov’s breakaway try, but he couldn’t hold on to the puck, and Handzus flipped it into the net.
The Caps still had nearly 90 seconds left on that power play, and Green notched his team-leading 13th extra-man marker of the year at 1:43. Nicklas Backstrom carried the puck into the left corner and sent a pass through a defenseman’s legs to Green, who was cutting to the net and roofed a wrist shot past Quick.
Patrick O’Sullivan re-established a two-goal advantage for the Kings at 7:26 with another unimpeded effort. O’Sullivan got behind Caps defenseman John Erskine and took a perfect pass from Kopitar before potting his 12th of the season.
“Those first two periods, we didn’t play our game, and they took advantage,” Caps forward Matt Bradley said. “We have to figure out how to get ready for every game no matter who we are playing.”
Notes - Viktor Kozlov was out of the lineup because of a groin injury suffered in Tuesday’s game at New Jersey. …
Captain Chris Clark had successful surgery to repair a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist.
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