Nov. 29--What we learned from the Kings' 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday:
1. It's not so much what we learned as what we reaffirmed in watching a game that was played hard, fast and with only one penalty called on each team -- hockey doesn't need tweaks like bigger nets when it's played like this.
The Blackhawks still have the core of the teams that won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Kings still have the core of the teams that won in 2012 and 2014 (and for good measure, the Kings also have Milan Lucic, who played on the team that interrupted the domination of the Kings and Blackhawks, the 2011 champion Boston Bruins). They were worthy opponents.
2. Also reaffirmed: how remarkable a player Patrick Kane is. With a goal and an assist the Blackhawks winger extended his points scoring streak to a career-best 19 games, with 11 goals and 20 assists in that span. He leads the NHL in assists, with 23, and points, with 37, in 24 games.
3. If Marian Gaborik can get going and take some of the scoring pressure off the Lucic-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli line, the Kings might be able to avoid the kind of slumps that dumped them out of a playoff position last season.
Gaborik had the tying and winning goals, each assisted by linemate Anze Kopitar. It was only the second multi-point game of the season for Gaborik, following a one-goal, one assist performance against Edmonton on Nov. 14. It was also only the second multi-point game for Kopitar, who now has seven goals, six assists and 13 points this season.
