LOS ANGELES — In their first game since clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kings’ four-game winning streak came to an end with a rare home loss, as they fell to the Seattle Kraken, 2-1, on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.
A Kraken squad that had scored 10 goals in its last two games won its third straight on the road against a Kings team that was coming off an emotional win on Saturday against likely first-round playoff opponent Edmonton.
The Kings (44-24-9, 97 points) failed to gain ground in their pursuit of first-place Vegas (47-22-8, 102 points) in the Pacific Division race, but they remained four points ahead of the third-place Edmonton Oilers (44-28-5, 93 points), who lost to the Ducks, 3-2, in Anaheim. All three teams have five regular-season games left.
The Kings scored first Monday, and quickly, with Quentin Byfield, who was flying from the warmups on, putting the hosts ahead just 1:48 into the first period, scoring with one hand tied behind his back by a grappling Shane Wright.
But the home team, whose power play went 0 for 3 on the night, failed to capitalize on a nearly 2-minute five-on-three advantage and ended the period trailing.
Matty Beniers evened the score with just over a minute remaining in the period, tapping in a pass from Jamie Oleksiak that ricocheted off a pair of Kings players in the crease. Brandon Montour, the Kraken’s top-scoring defenseman, set a new career best with his 17th goal of the season, scored with 31 seconds left to send the Kings to their dressing room down 2-1.
The Kings’ defense maintained the score in the second, buttressed by the continued strong play of goalie Darcy Kuemper. After allowing two goals in the first period for the first time this season, Kuemper shut down a pair of breakaway chances by Eeli Tolvanen and added a spinning stick save on a point blank chance by Jaden Schwartz to keep the Kraken at a one-goal lead.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord matched Kuemper’s effort in the third period, stopping 11 shots to hold onto the lead for the visitors.
The Kings (29-5-4 at home this season) were without defensemen Drew Doughty and Joel Edmundson, who were replaced in the lineup by Kyle Burroughs and Jacob Moverare. Forward Adrian Kempe did not return for the third period for personal reasons.
At the team’s morning skate, Coach Jim Hiller downplayed the potential for the matchup with Seattle to be a trap game and stressed mental readiness 76 games into the season.
“If this is right, the body will be right,” Hiller said, pointing to his head.
More to come on this story.
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