FINAL – Kings 3, Rangers 1 – Fiala, Moore, Hiller

The LA Kings extended their point streak at home to 15 games, as they skated to a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday evening at Crypto.com Arena.

After a video review, New York opened the scoring early in the second period, opening up a 1-0 advantage. Forward J.T. Miller got a shot on goal that deflected off the stick of defenseman Brandt Clarke before it was kicked out with an athletic right-pad save from goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Upon review, however, it was determined that the puck completely crossed the goal line before the save, resulting in a goal for Miller, his 18th of the season.

Skating on the man advantage, the Kings tied the game as forward Kevin Fiala buried his 27th goal of the season. After forward Andrei Kuzmenko nearly set up forward Adrian Kempe at the back post with a spinning dish, the Russian winger got what he deserved seconds later, with an assist to Fiala, who buried from close range to tie the game at one apiece. Kuzmenko extended his point streak to three games with the primary helper.

Later in the period, the Kings scored another power-play goal, taking a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. With the second unit on the ice, forward Trevor Moore had a chance from close range, which was saved by Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, but the rebound kicked to forward Phillip Danault, who buried his seventh goal of the season, coming in his 700th career NHL game, to put the hosts ahead through 40 minutes of play.

With just 16 seconds left on the clock, Fiala iced the game with an empty-net goal, his second goal of the game, bringing us to the final score of 3-1.

Hear from Fiala, Moore and Head Coach Jim Hiller following tonight’s victory.

Kevin Fiala

Trevor Moore
On extending the home point streak to 15 games tonight
I think it’s just a bunch of guys in unison. I think the D are playing awesome, the forwards are helping the D out and when we’re all playing together, we’re a really hard team to beat. With the fans in our building, it’s made it a pretty tough place to play.

On the impact of Phillip Danault, who hit 700 games played in the NHL tonight
I think stability, leadership. I think Phil’s at the top of his game right now. He’s maybe not got the bounces with the goalscoring but I think that he’s played as well right now as he ever has. I love playing with Phil and I’m super grateful for that.

On the impact of Andrei Kuzmenko on the Kings power play
I mean, he can make some plays that not a lot of guys can. It’s exciting. I think he just gets that jump on the power play, gets a little pop, those backhand, spin-o-rama plays are pretty fun.

On the team’s comfort level in close games this season
You know, Darce and Ritter help a lot. You know they’re going to make the saves when you need them and then I think you just can’t say enough good but our backend. I think those D have just played so well all year. You could list all of them, they’ve really played great.

Jim Hiller
On the team’s power-play improvements since the trade deadline
I mean, it looks a lot better, doesn’t it, with Kuzmenko. Whether we score or not, can we all agree that it looks a lot more dangerous? You’re seeing the puck go down to him on the goalie, right side, quite a bit more and then tonight was just a special play. He sells it with his eyes, pass it between the feet. You try to draw that up, but somebody’s got to be able to make that play at a high level. Pretty good.

On the impact of Andrei Kuzmenko on that top unit and his game tonight
I think if I talk about Kuzy, I thought that was by far his best game. I thought he was really good. We talked about it, he hadn’t scored, I thought he was playing alright, but you can see when a guy gets one, especially a guy like that, how much better, doesn’t it look like he just feels better, he’s freer. I thought he looked really good tonight. I thought he was one of the better players on the ice, both teams. He just was really, really good all over the ice. Fast on the backcheck, dangerous offensively, on the power play, 5-on-5, pulled the puck. Yeah, really positive signs.

On Kevin Fiala scoring two goals tonight and posting seven shots on goal
I think that’s something Kevin and I talked about that probably four or five weeks ago, we had a conversation about that specifically. We’ve talked it about from time to time, but a real, specific conversation where he said that he was just going to start focusing on that more. He was overpassing and not really thinking of that and he’s got a great shot. Seven shots tonight is a good night. He should be shooting all the time. If he’s guilty of anything, sometimes it’s overpassing.

On Phillip Danault hitting 700 games and his level of play as of late
I think the last few weeks from him, maybe I’m stating the obvious, you guys watch the games too, it’s been his best hockey of the year. I think Mooresie’s been better, I think that helps Phil and now Foegs, we’ve all talked about Foegs a lot, so the three of them, with Phil and Mooresie really playing a little bit more like we’ve expected them to play over the years and then Foegs playing well, I think that line really has a good identity. Phil, he flies under the radar. He just does his job. He isn’t the top scorer, isn’t on the first power play, but he penalty kills, other teams best, he’s just very, very dependable and he’s got good offensive skill. When he gets a chance to shoot it, hit the post earlier, makes nice passes, a great setup to Foegs the other night. So, he’s just one of those guys, doesn’t get spoken up about, likely, but important to any winning team.

On Darcy Kuemper’s play tonight and his proximity to another shutout
By I don’t know what it was, less than a centimeter, or we’re in the US so I’m going to say what, a quarter inch, third of an inch, three-eighths, he almost had that one too, right? There was a bit of white, it was the right call, for sure, but that was a pretty incredible save, and that would have another shutout for him. So, I mean, he’s been terrific.

On Quinton Byfield drawing three penalties tonight, leading to two power-play goals
He’s a hard guy to contain. He’s not just a straight-line skater. Q is agile too, he can get you this way, he’s quick, so it’s a hard guy to contain. I think that should be something as he continues to play that we see, he draws penalties, he should be able to do that. I think sometimes he’s guilty of trying to beat people 1-on-1 with his hands and as he’s going, if he’s starting to do with his hands and his feet, you’ll have to haul him down because he can get a step on you, and you’re not going to get him once he gets a step.

*Additionally, Hiller said that forward Tanner Jeannot, who left tonight’s game with an injury, will not travel to Colorado tomorrow. Forward Alex Turcotte, who did not play tonight with an upper-body injury, has not yet been ruled out to make the trip.

Notes –
• Forward Phillip Danault (1-0=1) scored his seventh goal of the season, extending his point streak to a third game (1-2=3) with his second tally in as many games against the Rangers (1G; Dec. 14, 2024).
• Danault played in his 700th career game tonight, becoming the 25th skater selected in the 2011 NHL Draft to reach the milestone. Danault is also the sixth Quebec-born skater to skate in his 700th career game as a member of the Kings, joining Marcel Dionne, Steven Finn, Steve Kasper, Michel Petit and Frank St. Marseille.
• Forward Kevin Fiala (2-0=2) scored his 27th and 28th goals for his 49th and 50th points (28-22=50) of the campaign to clinch his fifth career 50-point season. Fiala becomes the third Swiss-born player in league history to record three or more 50-point season. Fiala’s first goal marks the 10th power play goal of the season, marking the second such time he has reached double-digit goals on the man-advantage (11 PPG in 2023-24). Fiala has now tallied six points (4-2=5) in all three of his appearances against the Rangers at Crypto.com Arena since joining the Kings ahead of the 2022-23 season.
• Captain Anže Kopitar (0-1=1) picked up his 39th assist of the season, extending his point streak to a third game (2-2=4). The assist marked Kopitar’s 1,268th career point (437-831=1,268), passing Jean Ratelle (491-776=1,267) for sole possession of the 41st-most points in league history, and marked his 831st career assist, passing Henrik Sedin for sole possession of 28th all time.
• Forward Andrei Kuzmenko (0-1=1) recorded a power play assist, extending his point streak to three games (2-2=4). This also marked his first career power play point against the Rangers in the NHL.
• Forward Trevor Moore (0-1=1) collected his 18th assist for his 33rd point (15-18=34) on the season. Moore now has points in three straight contests and six points in his last 10 games (4-2=6), dating to March 3 in Chicago.
• Forward Warren Foegele (0-1=1) notched his 20th assist for his 40th point of the season (20-20=40), putting him one point shy of tying his career-high in points (20-21=41 in 2023-24 w/ EDM). With the helper, Foegele becomes the fifth King’s skater to join the 40-point club this season, joining Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe and Anže Kopitar. Foegele also extends his point streak to a third game, becoming the sixth different Kings skater to have an active point streak of at least three games joining Kevin Fiala (3GP, 3-2=5), Anže Kopitar (3GP, 2-2=4), Andrei Kuzmenko (3GP, 2-2=4), Trevor Moore (3GP, 2-1=3) and Phillip Danault (3GP; 1-2=3).
• Goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 of 23 shots to record his 25th win of the season, improving his record to 24-9-7. Kuemper’s nine-straight games allowing two goals or fewer ties Jonathan Quick (01/23/2012 – 02/18/12) and Jack Campbell (11/03/2018 – 02/05/2019) for the sixth-longest such span in franchise history.
• With tonight’s victory, Kuemper extended his franchise leading home point streak to 15 games (14-0-1). Per NHL PR, he is the first Canadian-born goaltender with a run of this length since Roberto Luongo (11-0-3 in 2010-11).
• The Kings won their 26th game on home ice this season, matching a franchise best home win total set four times previously, most recently in 2022-23.

The Kings will not hold a practice tomorrow on their travel day to Colorado. The team will return to the ice on Thursday, March 27 for morning skate, in advance of that evening’s game versus the Avalanche.