Gustav Nyquist showed balance and deft passing ability. Tomas Tatar went to the net with his stick on the ice. Just like that, 4-0 for the Detroit Red Wings over the L.A. Kings. In the first period.
Yes, you read correctly.
Leading the way offensively for the Red Wings was Nyquist, who had two goals and then the helper, and there’s still plenty of time left in this one. The first intermission came earlier than expected, perhaps thankfully for the Kings, due to broken glass, meaning the final 1:52 of a disastrous opening period would be played after the break, according to the NHL.
Despite Detroit’s quick start - Kings goalie Jonathan Quick allowed four goals on 12 shots before the earlier break - it wasn’t all good news for the Red Wings, who announced defenseman Kyle Quincey will not return to the game due to a lower-body injury, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.
From MLive.com after the game:
Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey played six shifts in the first period before leaving with an ankle injury. Babcock said he didn’t know if it was short-term or long-term.
Quick remained in the game to begin the second period. The Kings are coming off a 3-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday, and a 3-2 overtime loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday.