The Los Angeles Kings showcased their resilience on Monday evening, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at Crypto.com Arena. This victory not only showcased the skill of key players but also extended the Kings’ point streak to six games.
The game began with Los Angeles capitalizing on special teams. Early on, they were awarded two power plays, and it was the second opportunity where they struck first. Forward Quinton Byfield sent a shot toward the net, which was deftly redirected by Trevor Moore, who scored his ninth goal of the season. This power-play goal marked the Kings’ determination and set the tone for the evening.
Once the teams settled, the Golden Knights retaliated. They took control of the game with two goals during the second period. First, Tomas Hertl found defenseman Brayden McNabb, who fired the puck past Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper to tie the game at one. Moments later, Vegas captained by Mark Stone, scored on a deflection from Noah Hanifin's shot, giving the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead heading to the second intermission.
The Kings, undeterred by the deficit, came out swinging in the third period. Just 42 seconds after the break, Trevor Moore netted his second goal of the night with wrist shot precision from the left faceoff circle, leveling the score at 2-2. This goal served as a catalyst for the Kings, who quickly regained their momentum.
Continuing their surge, the Kings took the lead through Warren Foegele, who was set up beautifully by Byfield’s backhanded pass. Foegele's goal came at 8:31 of the third period, marking it as the turning point and shifting the game's tide firmly toward the Kings.
The onslaught didn’t stop there. Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson scored another goal with 4:32 remaining, extending the lead to 4-2. The scoring continued with Kevin Fiala adding the fifth and final goal for the Kings after receiving another assist from Byfield, who completed a remarkable evening with four assists to his name.
This game was particularly noteworthy for Byfield, who achieved his first career four-point game and joined the ranks of his teammates with 30 or more points this season. Byfield's performance illuminated his growth and contribution to the team, and he now has 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) this season.
"It’s just hockey is fun right now and we’re just trying to play our best," Byfield expressed after the game, reflecting on the strong chemistry he has developed with his line mates.
Warren Foegele’s contributions cannot be understated, as he notched his 15th goal of the season and also provided evidence of his power play effectiveness. This win was yet another dominant performance at home, bringing their record to 19-3-2 on the season. The Kings also displayed their resilience, having rebounded from being down 2-1 after two periods to score four unanswered goals.
On the other side, the Golden Knights, who had their three-game winning streak snapped, still remain at the top of the Pacific Division. They will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"We are still leading the Pacific Division, but we need to tighten up our game especially against divisional rivals like Los Angeles," noted Mark Stone, trying to glean positives from the outing.
Head Coach Jim Hiller also commended Byfield's performance and acknowledged the challenges they faced during the game, particularly during the second period when the Kings struggled. Hiller remarked, "It was obvious for all of us, faster, stronger, more competitive. So, we had to decide, are we just going to let them take it from us? Clearly, the guys had a pretty good response."
With this victory, the Kings are now firmly positioned as contenders, with their eyes set on maintaining their upward trend as the season progresses. Their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face the Vancouver Canucks, aiming to extend their successful run.