Toffoli impresses on the big stage June 05, 2013

In what was a must-win game for the Los Angeles Kings, rookie Tyler Toffoli once again proved his worth, assisting on the winning goal by Slava Voynov in the second period. The Kings would eventually go on to win the game 3-1, and now trail the Blackhawks 2-1 in the series.

Toffoli, a 2^nd round pick in the 2010 draft, had been in and out of the lineup for the Kings this playoffs, but has been a key contributor versus Chicago since replacing the injured Mike Richards in game 2.  The first year player has sparked the offense, scoring a goal and adding a pair of assists in the last two games. 

It has been a standout season for the 21-year-old native of Scarborough, Ontario. After claiming AHL rookie of the year honours, Toffoli has been a pleasant surprise with the big club, quickly gaining the respect of his teammates with his play. Anze Kopitar had this to say about the youngster:

“He definitely has a good touch around the net. He can score goals, he's proven it in juniors. He's proven it in the AHL. He's proving it now. He's come in and done some really good stuff for us.

“If he's not already, he's going to be a regular on a nightly basis.”

For more on Toffoli’s rise to prominence, keep reading the Toronto Sun article here.

For a look into last night’s Western Conference battle, check out the TSN.ca story here.