Game 49: Kings 2, Bruins 0

The Good

• American netminders Last night's game featured two of the best in Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick, with the two combining in this game for 66 saves and two goals allowed. Unfortunately, both were allowed by Thomas, but whatever. Throw in Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres and Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings and the good ole' USA is well-represented between the pipes. Now if only us Americans could start scoring regularly...
• Fast-paced action I'm not sure if it's just how the Kings play or if it was just last night's game, but this was a pretty entertaining game to watch. Lots of back-and-forth play, rushes from one end to the other and big hits thrown. The Kings are an exciting young team, and they made the game fun to watch last night.
• Thomas was spectacular at times I don't fault Tim Thomas on either of the goals he allowed, but I will give him credit for keeping the Bruins in the game. He made a number of excellent saves, including a beauty on a partial breakaway for Wayne Simmonds and a top-notch kick save on a King 2-on-1 (I don't remember who or when it was, this was when my sleepiness started to kick in). It's a shame that Thomas, who has bailed out his team on countless occasions this year, had to suffer a loss in a game in which he really played very well.

The Bad

• Ryan Smyth sets up camp "Captain Canada" did a ton of dirty work to get LA's first goal, but he never should have had the opportunity to put the puck in the net. Smyth was given way too much room in front of the net on the power play by Johnny Boychuk, allowing him the opportunity to bat the puck past Thomas. Zdeno Chara, who usually patrols the front of the net on the PK and makes it a far less hospitable place to be, was in the penalty box at the time. One can say he wouldn't have allowed Smyth to get to that position on the ice, but one also must credit Smyth's determination.
• The power play remains bad Surprise!
• Nathan Horton is still invisible Surprise!

The Rest

• All in all, I'm actually not all that upset about this loss. Quick played extremely well, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say he stole the win, he certainly was a huge factor. Then again, the Bruins didn't exactly swarm his cage all night. LA played a solid defensive game and capitalized on their power plays and scoring chances, something the Bruins failed to do. It's as simple as that.
• Anyone else hear the organist at the Staples Center play the Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina Song during a stoppage in play last night? Awesome. I love the 80s hair metal music that they play at the Garden (and I'm not even being sarcastic for once), but that cantina music should be worked into regular rotation at the Garden, effective immediately.

Attaboy: The organist at the Staples Center. That music made my night.

Providence Shuttle: Nathan Horton. Sure, this loss isn't totally on him, but he's doing nothing right now.