LA Kings down Vancouver Canucks to win first NHL pre-season game staged in China
Kings run out 5-2 winners in first China pre-season clash
Playing the first NHL game in China, the crowd in Shanghai couldn’t have been treated to a more fast-paced, physical show in the Los Angeles Kings’ 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. The game was filled with a combined 17 power-play opportunities and 57 shots on goal.
The players were uncertain of the reception, but the crowd proved immediately receptive to the action on the ice.
“Obviously you wanted to put on a show for the fans here and they got to see some goals, too,” said Vancouver forward Sven Baertschi, who scored the Canucks’ first goal.
The NHL offered a primer that featured team mascots before the game. An announcer came onto the ice to explain the finer points of the game as Fin (Vancouver’s killer whale) and Bailey (Los Angeles’ lion) mimicked infractions such as charging, cross-checking, tripping and hooking.
