The LA Kings came into last night’s game with 0 losses in regulation. They left with one.

Despite braintrust Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter having moved on, the LA Kings still have a very similar core: Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, Jake Muzzin, … okay and then they have a bunch of other guys. Brooks Laich? Alex Iafollo? Oscar Fantenberg?

Maybe they’re not quite the dominant force they used to be, but early in the season, the LA Kings have been able to PLAY. With a goal differential of +13 coming into last night, they’re showing that they’re not a team to be taken lightly at all.  This was a frustrating game, but over a team who was rolling, well, they all count the same.

Huzzah!

Let’s get right to the goals.

Everyone likes when Matt Martin scores, because then we get to argue about whether or not he should be in the lineup.

Everyone also likes when Roman Polak gets an assist… because then we get to argue about whether or not he should be in the lineup.

As you can see in the video above, Mitch Marner skates. And skates. And skates, until he can’t skate anymore. A clean zone entry, another entry to Gretzky’s office, the puck back to the point, a hard shot from Polak, some crash and bang hockey, and then the puck hits Martin in front of the net.

This was an ugly goal, put together from one beautiful play by Mitch Marner.

Analytics argue all day about faceoffs, but one thing is just obvious: If you win the offensive zone faceoff on a power play, you’ll have more time to operate.

Except sometimes you don’t need it.

Bozak “loses” the faceoff, LA’s C (Nick Shore) punches it out to JVR, JVR throws a wild pass past Marner, Marner picks up the bounce off the boards, passes it back down low to JVR, JVR kind of throws it towards the net, and then Bozak bangs home the rebound.

Eight seconds after the power play starts, it’s over and the Buds are up 2-0.

Add that one to the “should’ve had it” column, TSN.

Like, what the h*ck? The goal didn’t count because of goalie interference, but… Jonathan Quick was in position? Call it what you will, but Mitch Marner scored his second goal of the season, if you ask me.

Patrick “no signs of slowing down” Marleau pots in his fourth goal of the year within a minute after the Marner review ended… so they reviewed this one too. There’s not a whole lot to analyze here: Marleau batted the puck down in front of the net (with a potential high stick) after a point shot from Morgan Rielly. There was a quick review, and even a good case to call it off, but in the end, it didn’t matter and the Leafs were up by two.

Well, here’s where things got a little interesting.

On a power play, the Leafs did bad. Despite a mostly good game, Morgan Rielly couldn’t keep the puck in at the blueline, and well, Trevor Lewis took advantage. A breakaway, a clean move, then, a little back and forth and… the puck is past Andersen.

Then the Leafs… held on. No blown leads tonight.

See you Thursday.