The LA Kings earned a point to begin their five-game roadtrip but fell short in overtime during a 3-2 defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday evening at Nationwide Arena.
Against the early flow of play, Columbus opened the scoring via defenseman Zach Werenski, who buried his 16th goal of the season. After an extended shift in the offensive zone by the Kings, the Blue Jackets counter attacked and forward Luca Del Bel Bellez dished the puck to Werenski on his left, where the alternate captain beat Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper clean on the glove side to get the hosts on the board.
The Kings evened the score at one later in the period, sending the game into the first intermission tied at one goal apiece. Off a faceoff win, forward Kevin Fiala got a shot on net from the left-hand circle, which was stopped by Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, but forward Phillip Danault drove the net hard and got the rebound to go for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-1 scoreline.
Early in the third period, the Blue Jackets once again scored after the Kings controlled an extended stretch of play, opening up a 2-1 advantage. After Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe were both narrowly denied at one end, Columbus defenseman Dante Fabbro scored on a seeing-eye shot from the right point, evading all traffic in front, as well as Kuemper, for his fourth goal of the season and another one-goal lead for the home side.
The Kings appeared to have tied the game midway through the third period through forward Alex Laferriere, but the goal was called back on a Columbus coaches challenge. The play appeared ready to resume on multiple occasions, but the Blue Jackets were granted the challenge, despite the delay, and the goal was eventually overturned.
Skating 6-on-5 inside the final two minutes of regulation, the Kings finally found the game-tying goal to force the game into overtime. After keeping the puck in the offensive zone numerous times, the puck finally fell to forward Quinton Byfield just outside the top of the crease, where he buried his tenth goal of the season to tie the game at two and force it into overtime.
In the extra session, Columbus failed to convert on a penalty shot by Werenski before forward Kirill Marchenko scored the game-winning goal in transition, with a silky-smooth goal, skating past Fiala, who was covering defensively before slotting past Kuemper on the forehand to win the game.
Hear from Danault, Byfield and Head Coach Jim Hiller following tonight’s game.
Quinton Byfield
Phillip Danault
On his impressions from tonight’s game
Yeah, I mean it could have went our way for sure. I thought we had the best chances of the game, but they have a good team too, they have some good goalscorers as well.
On the 6-on-5 sequence and a deserved game-tying goal
The longest, for sure, possession in the o-zone. It started with the power play too, we had some good o-zone, not as much shots, but the 6-on-5 was huge at the end.
On both goals tonight coming right around the crease
When it gets harder, you have to get to the paint. It can’t be always easy, it’s got to be ugly. I think it’s just play hard and get in front of the net a little more. We had so many shots tonight, or shot attempts, goalie was good, you’ve got to give it to him. Our two goals were greasy, have to get more that’s for sure.
On welcoming Alex Laferriere back to his line tonight after 4 games out
It’s always good to have Laffy in the lineup, he’s been huge for us this year. He’s really [breaking] out, he’s finding his game and you can see the player he can be.
Jim Hiller
On his impressions from tonight’s game
A game we should have won, I thought we deserved to win, but we’ve had games like that, we’ve pulled the rabbit out of the hat before. Satisfied, we had a really good 6-on-5 and we got one point. That’s not what we wanted, but we’ll take it and move on.
On the 6-on-5 sequence to get the game-tying goal
Yeah, good job. I think Spenny had three or four from the point that he knocked down then kept in, that was really the difference. He threw it there five or six times, had numbers. It was a little frustrating that it didn’t go earlier, but nice to see it finally go in.
On creating numerous quality chances but only scoring twice
When you go work and you try to create chances, that’s all you can do, really. Sometimes they go in for you, sometimes they don’t. We had some of our best looks, I thought, we missed the net on but give the goalie credit, he played well. Again, I’m satisfied with the effort, should have won, didn’t win. Let’s go out to Detroit.
On the team not cheating for offense, despite offensive struggles of late
We’ve done that for awhile. I don’t know what they had in the third but I liked our third. I thought in our third we pushed, we didn’t sit back and had some good chances before they scored. There’s just not a lot to say. It’s one of those games where you like how you played, I thought we got a little unlucky around the net. Glad we got the 6-on-5 goal, but we leave disappointed.
On the disallowed goal and if he asked for an explanation on the time Columbus was given
No, not so much. The guy gave them a long time, but they’ve given us time before too. It’s hard to complain.
Notes –
• Forward Phillip Danault (1-0=1) scored his fourth goal of the season, marking his eighth point (4-4=8) against the Columbus Blue Jackets in eight games as a member of the Kings, dating back to March 4, 2022.
• With the extra attacker on, forward Quinton Byfield (1-0=1) scored his 10th goal of the season to tie the contest at two apiece with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Per NHL PR, Byfield’s tally came at 18:55 in the third period, marking the latest game-tying goal for the Kings since Drew Doughty found the back of the net at 18:57 on Oct. 28, 2023.
• The goal also marked the center’s third point against Columbus in as many games (2-1=3), dating back to Feb. 20, 2024.
• Forward Kevin Fiala (0-2=2) picked up his 12th and 13th assists of the season, his fourth and fifth points (1-4=5) in his last three road contests, dating back to Jan. 16 at Vancouver. The winger now has 15 points (4-11=15) in 13 total contests against the Blue Jackets in his career.
• Forward Alex Laferriere (0-1=1) pick up his 14th assist of the campaign in his return to action this evening at Nationwide Arena, his first contest since Jan. 13 at Edmonton. Laferriere has scored points (1-1=2) in back-to- back games against the Blue Jackets with his tally on Nov. 9 at Crypto.com Arena.
• In overtime, goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped Zach Werenski on his second penalty shot faced this season (save against Ryan McLeod on Oct. 10 at BUF) and improved his career totals to four saves on five attempts (.800 SV%).
The Kings are scheduled to return to the ice for practice tomorrow in Detroit at 12:30 PM local time.
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