LOS ANGELES — Quinton Byfield clinched the game with an overtime goal at 3:20, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 1-0 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, marking their fifth consecutive victory.
Darcy Kuemper was instrumental in the shutout, making 24 saves, contributing to his second back-to-back shutout performance.
Kuemper’s outstanding defense and the Kings’ tenacious play had previously secured them a 3-0 victory against Washington at home just two nights prior. With four shutouts so far this season, Kuemper’s career total has reached 35.
Justus Annunen, the goaltender for Nashville, was also impressive, managing to deflect 20 shots.
Highlights from Saturday’s game include Quinton Byfield extending his goal-scoring streak to six games, successfully netting a goal off a cross-crease pass provided by teammate Adrian Kempe.
As for the Predators, Michael Bunting participated in his second consecutive game after his debut for Nashville, which took place Friday night against Anaheim. Bunting, who was recently acquired from Pittsburgh, returned to action following an appendectomy at the end of February.
The Kings continue their dominance at home with a recent record of 9-0-2 over their past 11 home games.
Byfield’s decisive move marked his 17th goal of the season, a pivotal moment for the game. Despite a challenging start with only six shots on goal during the first 40 minutes, their lowest of the season, Los Angeles found a way to secure the win.
Looking ahead, the Nashville Predators are set to begin a three-game homestand against St. Louis on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings are preparing for a two-game road trip, starting with a matchup against Minnesota on Monday.
