The Los Angeles Kings don’t lose at home. At this point, a Kings win at Crypto.com Arena is inevitable, and on Tuesday night in downtown Los Angeles, they handed the New York Rangers a 3-1 loss, not only extending their win streak to four games, but their home win streak to seven games and their home point streak to 15 games.
After scoring 14 goals in the past two games, the Kings had to get back to grinding out a tight one, which they have been comfortable doing a lot this season. Despite controlling a majority of the game, goals don’t come as easily when playing against Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Surprisingly, it was the Kings’ struggling power play that came in clutch, finding the back of the net twice.
The Kings, who have been jockeying back and forth with the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division, now have the sole position of second with 89 points, while the Rangers missed their opportunity to slide into that second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Game Recap
It was all Kings for the first 20 minutes. Puck possession, shots on goal, and chances generated were all in favour of the Kings. The Kings were the better team and controlled the period, but what they were able to generate wasn’t anything out of this world that should have resulted in a goal. After the first 20 minutes of play, the game remained scoreless.
The Rangers came out a different team in the second. After being put on their heels for the first period, they came out with the strongest push they had all game, which led to the game’s opening goal. 2:10 into the second, JT Miller gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. What looked to be a miraculous save by Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was reviewed to have just barely, fully crossed the line.
Despite the second being the Rangers’ strongest period of the game, it was the Kings and their power play that did the most damage. Andrei Kuzmenko was brought to Los Angeles to enhance the Kings’ power play, and tonight he showed the type of skill and vision he can bring on the man advantage. Kuzmenko made two beautiful passes to wide-open players during the Kings’ first power play. Adrian Kempe couldn’t pot the first one, but Kevin Fiala made no mistake seconds later, tying the game up at one.
Just about seven minutes later, it was the fifth-worst power play in the league getting the job done again. In his 700th career game, Phillip Danault, who was in the right place at the right time, banged home the rebound to collect his first power-play point of the season and give the Kings a 2-1 lead.
The Kings went back to controlling the game in the third period, trying to collect an insurance marker, doubling the Rangers in shots 14-7. Nothing found the back of the net until Fiala iced it with the empty-netter, with 15 seconds left to play.
What’s Next for the Kings & Rangers
The Kings will have to say goodbye to their beloved home building for one game as they head out to Denver, Colorado, to take on the Avalanche on Thursday, March 27. The Rangers will continue their California road trip in Anaheim on Friday, March 28, to take on the Ducks.
