SHANGHAI (AP) – In the first NHL preseason game played in China, the Los Angeles Kings used a third-period scoring spurt to put away the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Thursday.
The teams gave the raucous Shanghai crowd a fast-paced, physical introduction to the NHL, combining for 17 penalties and several power- play opportunities. Tanner Pearson scored twice for the Kings and Alec Martinez and Jeff Carter each had a goal and an assist.
“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 players were unsure of the reception they’d get in the league’s first year in China, a country that has little experience with winter sports and few hockey rinks or players. But the crowd was immediately receptive to the action on the ice.
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, crosschecking, tripping and hooking.