SALT LAKE CITY -- The Los Angeles Kings beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-2 in a third-period flurry led by winger Kevin Fiala.
The game started with a scoreless 20 minutes of hockey, with both goaltenders standing strong in their nets. For Utah, it was Karel Vejmelka who finished the game with 15 saves on 18 total shots, good enough for a .883 save percentage for his team. On the other side for the Kings was Darcy Kuemper, who had a fantastic game with 28 saves on 30 total shots, only allowing two goals from Utah, one of which was in the final minute of the game.
To start, though, it would be Los Angeles that would light the lamp just under seven minutes into the second period. On a three-on-two break, winger Andrei Kuzmenko flung a saucer pass toward the front of the goal to the Kings leading goal scorer, winger Adrian Kempe. He was tripped as he was hitting the puck and was brought down hard to the ice though making contact with the Kuzmenko pass, which found its way into the goal. Though not the prettiest goal --- and taking a while for people to realize Kempe actually put the puck in the net --- it still counted and put the Kings up 1-0.
Utah would score shortly after with a goal from winger Lawson Crouse about 12 minutes into the second frame. Outshooting L.A. 23-to-6 at this point, Crouse received a pass from winger Josh Doan at the left circle and sniped a shot next to Kuemper's ear to tie it up at one apiece.
Los Angeles would respond during the third period with three straight goals to push their lead up 4-1.
The first goal of the third would be unassisted from winger Kevin Fiala. After a faceoff loss, Utah would send a pass directly in front of the goal of their defensive zone, which was stolen away by Fiala, who tucked away the shot to put the Kings up by one.
Only 44 seconds later, winger Trevor Moore would score on a breakaway to make the score a quick 3-1. After a puck was chipped out of L.A.'s defensive zone, Moore bumped a Utah player who fell down. Moore had all day to move from the left circle toward his backhand and finish the breakaway attempt.
Defenseman Drew Doughty would score on an empty net with 1:50 remaining on the clock to knock in his fourth goal so far this season and make the score 4-1.
That would not be the end of the scoring though, as Los Angeles got into penalty trouble late, and center Jack McBain would score for Utah on the man advantage with 20 seconds showing on the clock to make the score 4-2.
The Kings are suddenly only three points back from the leader in the Pacific Division: the Vegas Golden Knights. A lot of work has to be done, though, for the Kings if they hope to snag a one seed late.
Their next game will be the first of two late-season matchups against their rival Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at 1 p.m.