Nikita Scherbak knelt down to give a big fist pump. Matt Luff stood straight up and quickly jabbed the air with his fist. Jeff Carter’s gap-toothed smile made for a great slow-motion replay.
Two months’ worth of frustration, disconnect and change were erased, for one afternoon. Badly needing a win, the Kings got an authoritative one, against a quality divisional rival. A 5-1 triumph against the Vegas Golden Knights still left them at the bottom of the NHL standings, but it felt like the lid taken off a crockpot.
Arguably their most complete game under interim coach Willie Desjardins, the Kings got goals from three lines, plus Forbort’s first score this season.