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Kings’ coach Sutter urges top players to fight through tight checking

Anaheim Ducks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Four

in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on May 10, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

Harry How

The Anaheim Ducks fought their way back into this Western Conference second-round series, and now it’s all tied at two-games apiece.

For the Kings, already in a low-scoring series with their California rivals, goals have been especially hard to come by in the last two games - both losses for L.A. On Saturday, facing 20-year-old rookie goalie John Gibson, the Kings got 28 shots on goal but not one of them crossed the goal line. Anaheim was also credited with 25 blocked shot, making it difficult enough for the Kings’ shooters to get pucks through the Gibson, although he saw his fair share of rubber.

Recent struggles have Kings’ head coach Darryl Sutter asking for his top players - he didn’t name anyone in particular - to battle through the tight checking Anaheim has employed in this series.

“I think the ability to finish it off. We had trouble scoring against Anaheim,” said Sutter, as per LA Kings Insider. “They’re doing a good job of keeping us to the outside, keeping top players to the perimeter. Give them credit for it. Not allowing them to get any time or space. Some of our top guys have to fight through it more.”

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