Kings End Losing Streak with Overtime Win Over Blues

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Kings snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 overtime victory against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday evening at Crypto.com Arena. The win gives the Kings a crucial boost as they look to solidify their standings for the playoffs.

Defenseman Drew Doughty opened the scoring for the Kings in the first period with a shot from the point, deflected by forward Anze Kopitar. This goal marked the 307th time they connected on a goal, tying them for the second-most in NHL history between a forward and a defenseman.

Just over four minutes into the third period, the Blues equalized with a goal from defenseman Nick Leddy, who notched his first goal of the season. Leddy’s shot from a tight angle struck off the post and past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper to set the stage for overtime.

Neither team managed to score in the remainder of regulation, leading to another overtime for both sides. Forward Quinton Byfield ended the contest with his 13th goal of the season, netting the game-winning shot early in the extra period.

“He showed determination tonight and came back strong after a hit,” Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller said about Byfield’s performance. “Once you assert yourself, your confidence grows, and you start to trust your shot.”

The Kings’ victory was particularly significant as it marked the debut of newly acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko, who was added to the roster in a trade on Friday. Kuzmenko recorded one assist and contributed to the offensive efforts throughout the game.

“I thought he played really well,” Hiller said of Kuzmenko’s debut. “He kept pucks alive on the power play and created space, which was crucial tonight.”

The Kings, standing third in the Pacific Division with 71 points, faced a tough week but are optimistic following the trade deadline and this victory. Their next matchup will be against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.

The Blues, despite the loss, remain in the playoff hunt with a record of 31-28-5, closely tailing the Canucks in Wild Card contention. Blues captain Brayden Schenn expressed his disappointment after the game but noted the team had chances to win. “We fought hard to get back in this game, but unfortunately fell short in overtime,” he said.

As both teams approach the final stretch of the season, the intensity of the matches is expected to ramp up, making every game crucial for playoff positioning.