First of all, let’s just get this out of the way.
All of it. The Staples Center. The players’ names. And the turnovers. The many, many defensive zone turnovers.
Other than the turnovers, the first period was notable mostly for Michael Grabner missing the net from practically inside it. It’s hard to argue with 64 goals’ worth of chemistry, but tonight putting Grabner back on a line with JT Miller and Kevin Hayes paid off only in chances, not points. Ultimately, Grabner missed the net spectacularly in all three periods, from that first breakaway to a final empty net attempt.