The LA Kings fell 6-2 to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, but defenseman Sean Durzi scored his first NHL goal.
While the LA Kings were blown out on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, extending their losing streak to five games, defenseman Sean Durzi recorded both his first NHL point and goal. The 23-year-old assisted on Viktor Arvidsson‘s goal early in the second period, tying the game at one apiece.
However, the Leafs would score four goals in the middle frame, making it a 5-1 lead. Into the third period, Durzi wristed a beautiful shot from the high slot past Leafs’ netminder Jack Campbell on the powerplay for his first career goal.
With the tally, Durzi became the first Kings’ defenseman to score a goal in his NHL debut since John English did so with the franchise back in 1988.
Also, good on Arthur Kaliyev to immediately grab the puck for his teammate.
“Yeah, it was nice. Obviously garbage time in the hockey game, but to get it out of the way was good,” the former Maple Leaf said. “I thought there was a lot to clean up, but it’s a good feeling.
“Unfortunately for Durz, the emotional component to his goal was minimal, because of when it happened and the score of the game,” Kings’ head coach Todd McLellan said of the moment. “I’ll give our guys credit, they were all excited for him, they were, the bench was all standing, guys were excited, but it would’ve been so much better for him as an individual if it was 3-2 or whatever it might be. Really happy for him, we all are, but the emotional investment into the goal wasn’t as great as it could have been.”
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Durzi’s day.
The Kings are off until Saturday, hosting the Ottawa Senators, with puck drop at 4 pm PT.
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