Taking Advantage of Being Shorthanded

When Jordan Nolan decided to ignore Tom Sestito's urgent invitation to fight last night, fingers quickly began to pound keyboards, touch screens and anything else that might eventually be set in print or posted on the Internet.

The Kings' Nolan had fought Sestito back on Nov. 9, when the Canucks skater was busy compiling a major, a few runs at players and two penalties for charging. This time, Nolan takes a pass, and now we are all wondering what topics will be on the table April 5, when the Kings face the Canucks for the final time in the regular season.

Did Coach John Tortorella get his players to believe that they will be dictating the terms of the game from here on out. Did Nolan's turtle play actually put the Kings on the defensive, image wise and on the ice, for any other games between the two sides.

All good questions, or good conversation topics before the puck drops. But if you are a Canucks fan, you have to be pleased with the failure rate of the Kings' power play. Anytime your team can survive and thrive while a man or two down is only good for morale. The Canucks did not have to worry about Davis Payne's mind coming up with anything worthwhile yet again.

A terrible power play is not what you need when handed seven minutes to put the game out of reach. The Kings won the game, but their special teams should trouble them.