Overtime Heartbreak: Kings' Streak Snapped by Canucks

 

By Tim Haddock

02/28/2025 at 1:00 PM

 

The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in overtime at Crypto.com Arena, with Conor Garland scoring the game-winning goal.

 

 

LOS ANGELES - The Kings ended their three-game homestand after the break with an overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.

 

The Canucks took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Adrian Kempe cut the lead in half scoring his 26th goal of the season.

“The third period, we got more pucks to the net, everyone was more hungry, more physical and we got some more chances to score,” Kempe said. “Tough losing the game.”

 

Warren Foegele tied the score 2-2 with a little over six minutes to play in the game. It was his 16th goal of the season.

 

It was enough to send the game into overtime, but Conor Garland scored his second goal of the game with 34 seconds left in the extra period to win it.

 

“We weren’t sharp. Even in the third period, we still weren’t sharp,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “We scored. That was great to see. We played much better, but I still think we weren’t sharp.”

Nils Hoglander scored in the first period to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead. Garland scored a power play goal in the second period to increase the lead 2-0.

 

Kings goalie David Rittich made 14 saves.

 

“Points are always good,” Hiller said. “They’re always good to get. They’re hard to get.”

 

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty did not play in the game against the Canucks. He was out with a lower body injury.

 

Doughty missed the first 47 games of the season with a broken ankle. He has scored four points in eight games with the Kings this season.

 

The Kings won the first two games of the homestand against the Utah Hockey Club and Vegas Golden Knights.

 

“The first 40, I think we kind of had the same game we had against Vegas. The third period, we played really well against Vegas,” said Kings defenseman Jordan Spence who had an assist on Foegele’s goal in the game against the Canucks. “We did the same thing against Vancouver. For us to win games in the second half, we have to play a full 60 minutes.”

 

Before the Four Nations Face Off break, the Kings won two games at home and went 4-2 during the six-game homestand. Both losses were in overtime.

 

The Kings started their homestand after the break against the Utah Hockey Club. Doughty had a goal and two assists and the Kings won 5 to 3.

 

Doughty, fresh off winning the Four Nations Face Off tournament with Team Canada, scored his first goal of the season in the first period. His goal tied the score 1-1.

 

Utah took a short-lived lead, 2-1, on Barrett Hayton’s second power play goal of the game. The Kings scored two goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead.

 

Kevin Fiala scored his 22nd goal of the season on a power play and Alex Laferriere scored his 15th goal of the season to give the Kings a one-goal lead. Doughty assisted on both goals.

 

The Kings extended their lead 4-2 on a goal by Trevor Lewis. But Hayton scored his third goal of the game, a hat trick, moments later to cut the lead to one goal again.

 

Mikey Anderson scored an empty-netter goal in the final minutes of the game to secure the win for the Kings.

 

The next game for the Kings was against the Vegas Golden Knights, the first place team in the Pacific Division.

 

Moore scored two more goals and Fiala scored his 23rd goal of the season in the Kings 5 to 2 win. Quentin Byfield had four assists in the game.

 

The Kings scored four goals in the third period to blow open the game.

 

Moore gave the Kings a 1 to nothing lead in the first period on a power play goal.

 

Vegas scored two goals in the second period to take a 2 to 1 lead.

 

Moore scored 42 seconds into the third period to tie the score 2 to 2. It was his 10th goal of the season.

 

Warren Foegele, Joel Edmunson and Fiala added goals in the third period.

 

The Kings are 19-3 at home with three overtime losses, the best home record in the NHL.

 

The Kings are 31 and 17 with eight overtime losses and in third place in the Pacific Division after 48 games.

 

They play the Dallas Stars next, the first game of a three-game road trip.