Surging Kings outlast Golden Knights in Pacific showdown
LOS ANGELES — The top two teams in the Pacific Division met in a watershed showdown and did not disappoint as the Kings triumphed, 4-2, over the Vegas Golden Knights in a game with playoff intensity on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Winger Gabe Vilardi kicked off the scoring and then the second line took over with Viktor Arvidsson, Phillip Danault and Alex Iafallo contributing a goal apiece and seven combined points, led by Arvidsson’s three. Pheonix Copley was back between the pipes where he earned his seventh win in eight appearances with 22 saves as the Kings improved to 5-0-1 in their past six games.
Former Kings forward Michael Amadio and former Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb scored goals for Vegas. Logan Thompson stopped 21 of 24 shots.
In the final period, the Kings turned shot suppression into their second lead of the night. They didn’t allow a shot on goal for nearly eight minutes, then scored in transition off a rush that Iafallo finished with a short-side snipe from the left slot with 12:22 remaining.
One total team effort leading to a nifty play for a goal deserved another in the second period.
Sustained pressure by the Golden Knights earned them their first edge of the night just past the halfway point of the game. Defenseman Brayden Pachal hit the net with a long slap shot before winger Reilly Smith bounced a followup off Copley’s pad, recovered the rebound and sent a between-the-legs, no-look pass to McNabb at the back post. He narrowly beat Alex Iafallo to the spot for his first goal of 2022-23.
But the Kings pulled even 13:22 into the period when they repeatedly prevented Vegas from clearing their own zone. Winger Viktor Arvidsson then went to work from behind the net, stepping out for what initially appeared to be a wraparound attempt but instead became a pass across the blue paint for Danault’s tap-in tally.
Danault has three goals and five points during his five-game scoring streak. Copley conserved the tie in the final minute with a stellar sliding save on Jake Leschyshyn.
The Kings killed the game’s first penalty, thanks in part to an authoritative glove save by Copley on winger Mark Stone. They also got the game’s first goal, though they gave back their lead in short order.
Pressure for Jaret Anderson-Dolan on the forecheck created confusion between the Vegas defensemen, McNabb and Daniil Miromanov, and a giveaway came to Blake Lizotte. He found Vilardi in the right circle for a one-timer and his team-leading 15th goal of the season.
But Vilardi took a penalty just 48 seconds later and Vegas scored 23 seconds into its power play. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo fed Amadio for a one-time blast to the short side from the left faceoff dot.
NOTES
Quinton Byfield was recalled from the minors and played his first game since Oct. 25. … As expected, winger Arthur Kaliyev was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. … Forward Trevor Moore (undisclosed) missed Tuesday’s game and should be considered doubtful for Thursday’s match in Colorado. … Defenseman Alex Edler (rest) returned and replaced Jordan Spence.
More to come on this story.