In Los Angeles, the Kings secured a 3-1 victory against the New York Rangers, with Kevin Fiala contributing two goals and Darcy Kuemper making 22 saves. Phillip Danault also added a goal, helping the Kings maintain an impressive home point streak, which now stands at 15 games (12-0-3). This achievement positions Los Angeles alongside Washington as the only teams in the NHL to boast a home streak of at least 15 games, with Washington holding an 11-0-5 record in such games.
J.T. Miller scored the lone goal for New York, and Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves in the match. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they’ve now faced defeat in four out of their last five encounters. Miller’s goal initially appeared to be denied by Kuemper’s quick reflexes, but after a thorough review, it was determined that the puck had indeed crossed the goal line.
Fiala equalized the score for Los Angeles on a power play with 9:06 left in the second period, using skillful deflection from the right doorstep. Playing in his 700th NHL contest, Danault scored the pivotal second power play goal, allowing the Kings to take the lead with just 2:12 remaining in the middle period. Fiala later sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final moments of the game, with 15.1 seconds left on the clock.
From the game insights, the Rangers have now lost eight of their last 11 games (3-6-8), placing them a point away from a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Conversely, the Kings have triumphed in nine of their last ten games, edging ahead of Edmonton by two points in the Pacific Division.
A notable moment came when Kuemper executed a crucial save against the Rangers’ Will Cuylle from close range, maintaining the Kings’ 2-1 advantage. He rapidly followed up to prevent another attempt after Vincent Trocheck’s shot was blocked, further showcasing solid defense.
Interestingly, the Kings, who entered the game ranked 28th in power-play efficiency at 15.7%, managed to convert multiple opportunities, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since October 14, when they played against Ottawa. The Kings had gone 3 for 5 in that overtime loss, underscoring a significant improvement in their special teams’ performance.
Looking ahead, the Rangers are scheduled to visit Anaheim on Friday, while the Kings will travel to face Colorado on Thursday.