Kings, Ducks Choose Bland Tie

In the end, it was just another ho-hum December game. No magic, no fireworks, no fisticuffs, nothing truly remarkable Friday at the Arrowhead Pond.

The Mighty Ducks and Kings still combined to entertain a sellout crowd of 17,174. Somehow, some way, a 1-1 tie seemed appropriate given the level of play. Each team seemed pleased to have earned another point in the standings.

And why not?

There was so little to separate the two in a ragged, tight-checking game that could have gone either way with a fortunate bounce or two.

“Every point right now is golden and we’ll take it, recognizing we can play a lot better,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “We felt we really didn’t start playing our game until the third period. In a situation like that you want to make sure you come away with a tie and take your chances in overtime.”

The Ducks thought a bit more of their game Friday, but given their embarrassing 4-2 loss Wednesday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was difficult to disagree.

“I think it was probably one of our best games all year,” goalie Guy Hebert said. “We had the intensity we’ve lacked at times. I thought from the drop of the puck to the final whistle that we kept going after them.”

Left wing Craig Johnson scored the Kings’ lone goal at 13:46 of the first period. Defenseman Pavel Trnka countered for the Ducks less than two minutes later at 15:30.

Luc Robitaille, making his return from a broken left foot, was ineffective for the Kings. Teammate Ziggy Palffy was nearly invisible and played very little in the third period.

Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne didn’t get much done for the Ducks, so the battle of all-star forwards was essentially a wash.

The goaltenders were the best, most consistent players on the ice. Neither Hebert nor Jamie Storr of the Kings faced much sustained pressure. Neither was forced to make spectacular saves.

The Ducks held a 30-20 advantage in shots, including a 14-5 edge in the second period. There were plenty of other shots from both teams that sailed high, wide and out of harm’s way.

The power play units certainly couldn’t have been counted on to break open the game.

The Ducks faltered again, going 0 for 4 and extending their streak without a goal with the man advantage to 19 consecutive chances.

The Kings, two for their last 41 on the power play, were no better in going scoreless in seven opportunities.

To be sure, fussy officiating from referees Terry Gregson and Lance Roberts contributed to the sluggish play. They didn’t whistle anyone for looking sideways at an opponent, but nearly everything else earned a trip to the sin bin.

Perhaps Gregson and Roberts were mindful of the fight-filled exhibition the teams played in September at the Great Western Forum and didn’t want a repeat on their hands.

But what was going through their heads when the whistled Hebert for interference against King winger Glen Murray 1:27 into the game? Hebert had just played the puck behind his net when he collided with Murray.

“I’m going right back to my net,” said Hebert, who could recall picking up only a few penalty minutes in his nine-season NHL career. “I knew he was coming, but he has to get out of my way. I’m glad it didn’t come back to haunt us.”

The Kings took a 1-0 lead on Johnson’s deflection of defenseman Aki Berg’s point shot at 13:46.

Trnka then sent a missile from the top of the left faceoff circle behind Storr to tie the score, 1-1. Center Steve Rucchin set up the goal by flicking the puck off a King’s stick and into open space along the left wing.

“The puck was coming to me so slowly, it was perfect,” said Trnka, whose goal was his first since Oct. 19 against the Washington Capitals. “I thought the whole shift we did a great job. We kept the puck in their zone and had about three chances to score.”

The Ducks dominated the second period, but couldn’t push a go-ahead goal past Storr.

Play opened up a good deal in the third when Gregson and Roberts apparently decided they had met their quota for ticky-tack penalties.

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DUCKS vs. KINGS

13-15-6

Kings’ record vs. Ducks

*

4-9-4

Kings’ record vs. Ducks at Pond

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26

Games it has taken Kings to earn 34 points in standings

*

40

Games it took Kings to earn 34 points last season.