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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ziggy Palffy made sure the Los Angeles
Kings took advantage of their scoring chances.
"We have to just go for it. If we have a chance that's three-on-two,
that's a time we have to score," Palffy said Monday night after
his goal and three assists led the Kings to a 7-1 victory over the
Columbus Blue Jackets.
|  | | About all the Blue Jackets could do was play tough as Columbus' Jamie Heward, left, pushes Los Angeles' Glen Murray into the boards. |
"Every chance we got, we used it," Palffy said.
The expansion Blue Jackets had trouble creating scoring
opportunities, and couldn't stop the Kings from getting shots.
After Tyler Wright's goal 2:19 into the third period cut the
Blue Jackets' deficit to 3-1, Palffy took advantage of a penalty
several minutes later to end the chance for a comeback.
Columbus' Krzysztof Oliwa was whistled for interference with
16:42 remaining, and Palffy scored 42 seconds later on a pass from
Rob Blake. Luc Robitaille's second goal 8:38 into the third made it
5-1 and sent most of sellout crowd of 18,136 home.
"We were lucky. We had an early lead," Robitaille said.
"Obviously when you play against a new team and get an early lead
it's a little bit tougher for them."
Kings goalie Jamie Storr made 27 saves and was barely tested.
Columbus' Marc Denis was peppered with 39 shots -- from every
angle -- as his teammates repeatedly made bad passes and had trouble
clearing the puck out of their zone.
"These are the lessons you need to learn sometimes before you
get the mindset of how you're supposed to play," Blue Jackets
coach Dave King said. "We're clearly a team that needs to play
smarter. We need to play more consistent and we need to get people
who are known to be defensive players to play that way."
Robitaille gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead 5:19 into the first
period. Palffy took an errant pass from Columbus' Geoff Sanderson
near center-ice and streaked down the right side for a two-on-one break.
Denis stopped Palffy's point-blank shot, but Palffy got the
rebound and one-timed a pass behind the goalie's back to a
wide-open Robitaille. By the time Denis spun around, the puck was
in the net.
"We definitely had some bad bounces and some mental mistakes,"
Denis said.
Palffy's positioning on the ice was just as important as his
assist on Los Angeles' second goal on a power play about eight
minutes later.
After passing the puck to a wide-open Mathieu Schneider at the
blue line, Palffy then moved in front of Denis' right arm. The two
bumped and Denis slipped to a knee just as Schneider sent a slap
shot between the goalie and the left post.
A goal by Kelly Buchberger made it 3-0 early in the second
period. Jason Blake and Steven Reinprecht also scored in the third
for Los Angeles.
Game notes
On the Blue Jackets bench, coach King was hit in the face with a
puck midway through the second period. Trainers had to bandage a
bloody gash above King's right eyebrow, but he was able to finish
the game. ... One Los Angeles power play featured four former
All-Stars -- Robitaille, Schneider, Palffy and Blake. ... Schneider
was selected by Columbus from the Rangers in the expansion draft.
However, the Blue Jackets couldn't meet his price, and he signed
with Los Angeles as a free agent. ... Robitaille has four goals in
three games. ... Columbus plays its first road game Thursday at
Calgary. ... Los Angeles plays its home opener Wednesday against
St. Louis.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Columbus Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 4
Florida 2
Los Angeles 7
Columbus 1
Dallas 3
Toronto 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Luc Robitaille sweeps in a shot by teammate Zigmund Palffy for the Kings' opening goal.
avi: 747 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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