LA Kings Beat Vancouver 4-1 In First Ever Salt Lake Shootout
Sep 25, 2018, 10:30 PM | Updated: Sep 29, 2018, 10:34 pm
LA Kings defenseman Daniel Brickley watches the puck in the Salt Lake Shootout, Sept. 24, 2018 at Vivint SmartHome Arena. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In the first ever Salt Lake Shootout, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 Monday night at Vivint SmartHome Arena.
An ‘Electric’ Atmosphere
In the first NHL game in Utah since October 5th, 2008, the Kings and the Canucks provided plenty of excitement for the 12,367 fans in attendance. Hometown heroes Daniel Brickley and Trevor Lewis both started on the ice for the Kings, the designated home team.
“It was electric, the fans were really involved,” said Brickley. “I caught myself looking up at the jumbotron a few times, watching whether it was the Kiss Cam or dancing or whatever. It seemed like they had a lot of fun.”
.@LAKings forward Trevor Lewis speaks to the media after the first ever Salt Lake Shootout. pic.twitter.com/732I8Svznl
— KSL SportsBeat (@kslsports) September 25, 2018
“It was great, it got pretty loud out there,” said Lewis. “Looking around and seeing a lot of familiar faces, it was pretty fun.”
How It Went Down
Though the Kings had a few chances at a power play goal in the first period, it wasn’t until the 5:15 mark of the opening period that they found the back of the net on a hard shot by Tyler Toffoli. It would be the only goal in the first.
The Canucks responded early in the second on a slap shot by Sam Gagner just 1:02 into the period.
Toffoli put the Kings back on top with a slick play, grabbing an airborne puck before putting it down and putting a nice move on Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom for his second goal of the game. The second period ended like the first, with the Kings holding one goal lead this time with the score 2-1.
In the final period, the Kings pulled away from Vancouver, scoring twice within a span of less than a minute. Captain Anze Kopitar found the back of net early in the third, scoring a back-door goal on Markstorm on a quick cross-ice pass from Alex Iafallo. Just 42 seconds later Dion Phaneuf blazed a slap shot off the post and in off an assist from Lewis.
They’ll Be Back
The Kings will return for a preseason game at Vivint SmartHome Arena for each of the next two years as part of a three-way agreement between the organization, Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment and the Utah Sports Commission. The date and opponent will be announced at a later date.
The NHL season will officially begin October 3rd.
Special Jerseys For Warmups
The Kings came out for pregame warmups wearing special Utah Jazz-themed jerseys which were later put up for auction.
The hometown boys 😍 pic.twitter.com/OY6ABfES4i
— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 25, 2018
Bid now on these one-of-a-kind LA Kings X @utahjazz warm-up jerseys! All proceeds benefit @LAKingsCare.
➡️ https://t.co/5XsHu39n4T pic.twitter.com/5eRnLvRzF0
— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 25, 2018
