LA Kings Calgary Flames

Photo Credit: Hockey Royalty

Despite losing a 1-0 lead in the third period, the LA Kings battled back to force extra time, eventually winning in the shootout.

With the win, the Kings are 1-0-1 on the road trip. With 84 points and 12 games remaining, LA extended their second-place lead over Edmonton to three points.

GOAL BREAKDOWN

1st Period

None

2nd Period

LAK – Alex Iafallo (15), Assists: Adrian Kempe (15), Alexander Edler (12)

3rd Period

CGY – Johnny Gaudreau (31) (Power Play), Assists: Noah Hanifin (26), Calle Jarnkrok (16)

CGY – Erik Gudbranson (6), Assists: Milan Lucic (10), Sean Monahan (15)

LAK – Viktor Arvidsson (19), Assists: Phillip Danault (20), Olli Maatta (6)

Overtime

None

Shootout

Lias Andersson was the only shooter who scored

A few takeaways from Thursday’s win:

1. Iafallo the leader

Alex Iafallo recorded his first goal in 23 games in the second period while opening the scoring for the LA Kings. Adrian Kempe led the effort up-ice, catching the Flames in a change.

Iafallo provided support on the play, streaking through the slot. Kempe fed Iafallo the puck, and No. 19 did the rest, beating Jacob Markstrom.

“It felt good. Nice play by (Edler) to get it to (Kempe) and he made a great pass to me. I decided to put it in… finally went in,” said a relieved Iafallo during the intermission.

2. Kings survive another injury scare

Kings fans collectively held their breath when Danault took a shot from Oliver Kylington off his hand and went straight to the locker room. It looked a lot like what happened to Dustin Brown, who is looking at potentially missing the remainder of the regular season.

However, after a few minutes, Danault returned to the bench and was back out on the ice not long after. Danault didn’t appear to have any lingering issues for the rest of the game, and he looked really good on the one-timer in overtime.

The Kings got a lucky break here.

3. Flames take the lead

Clinging to a 1-0 lead to start the final 20 minutes of regulation, Sean Durzi was tabbed for cross-checking just 17 seconds into the third period. Johnny Gaudreau would even the score at one goal apiece one minute later on an odd bounce that got past Cal Petersen.

Then with 6:27 left in the period, Erik Gudbranson fired a shot from the blueline that was well-screen by former LA Kings Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis. The puck may have gone off Lias Andersson as well, but either way, it found the back of the net to put Calgary in front.

4. Not so fast, my friend

This game had that all-too-familiar feeling of another game slipping away from the Kings. However, Viktor Arvidsson made sure his team would get at least a point out of this one. Two minutes after Calgary took the lead, Danault fed a beautiful backhanded pass from behind the net to Arvidsson in the slot, who buried the puck home.

“When they came and took that 2-1 lead, it could have been real easy for us to pack it in,” Cal Petersen admitted after the game. “But I don’t think that’s the group that we have. We battled back and were able to get the win. A really good character win.”

The LA Kings will get a well-deserved day off tomorrow before yet another tough battle in Winnipeg on Saturday.

GO KINGS GO!

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