In a thrilling performance in Los Angeles, the Toronto Maple Leafs emerged victorious against the Los Angeles Kings with a 3-1 win on Saturday. John Tavares was the star of the night, scoring twice to secure the victory for the visitors.
Auston Matthews made a significant contribution with a goal and an assist, while Anthony Stolarz was formidable between the pipes, making 36 saves. This triumph allowed the Maple Leafs to improve their record to an impressive 5-1-1 over their last seven games.
The Kings saw Alex Laferriere find the back of the net for them, but it was not enough to maintain their stellar home record. Goalie Darcy Kuemper tried to keep them in the game with 23 saves but couldn’t prevent their 15-game home point streak from ending. This was their first loss at home in regulation since they went down 5-1 to Pittsburgh on January 20.
Laferriere gave the Kings an early lead in the second period, but Matthews responded with a short-handed goal early in the third, leveling the score at 1-1. Tavares gave Toronto the lead by capitalizing on a rebound from Matthews during a 4-on-3 power play with less than eight minutes left on the clock. He comfortably sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 1:35 left to play.
This win has pushed the Maple Leafs to the top of the Atlantic Division standings, surpassing both Florida and Tampa Bay by a single point. However, the Panthers hold an advantage with a game in hand over their rivals.
Some key observations from the game highlight the Maple Leafs’ proficiency in power plays. With the third-best road power play in the NHL, Toronto went 1 for 4 to shift the game in their favor. Laferriere’s goal for the Kings ended his 17-game goal drought stretching back to February 22.
A crucial moment in the match occurred when Kuemper’s aggressive play with his stick resulted in a trip against Matthews during 4-on-4 play, setting up Tavares for his 12th power-play goal this season.
Notably, Tavares has been on a remarkable scoring streak, finding the net in five consecutive games and leading the NHL with 13 goals since the 4 Nations Face-off.
Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs are set to face Anaheim on Sunday, while the Kings will host San Jose on the same day.