LOS ANGELES – With a chance to build on a strong road trip and gain precious ground in a crowded Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings failed to capitalize, losing 4-3 in shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers at Crypto.com Arena.
On a night where Los Angeles honored their captain Anze Kopitar in his first home game since becoming the all-time franchise leader in points, the Kings were presented with a golden opportunity following losses by Vegas, Seattle, San Jose and Edmonton, all of which are competing for playoff positioning as the final month of the season approaches.
Los Angeles dropped their league-high 16th overtime loss, falling to 10-16 this season in games decided after regulation. History could be on the horizon for Los Angeles – and not the good kind. The Kings are two overtime losses away from tying the NHL’s single-season record of 18, putting their struggles beyond regulation into historic territory.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Los Angeles did gain full control of the second wild card spot and now own a one point advantage above Seattle and Nashville with 14 games remaining.
Trevor Moore helped Byfield open the scoring with a perfect pass to Quinton Byfield, who buried his 14th goal of the season. The 30-year-old left winger captured his 21st point of the season in another tough loss for a Kings squad desperately searching for consistency.
"Wish we had that (extra) point tonight," Moore said. "We just have to find a way to string some wins together and get some confidence."
After taking a 1-0 lead on Byfield's score, Philadelphia found itself trailing for an NHL-leading 46th time this season. The Flyers quickly responded, erupting for three goals in the middle frame as Travis Konecny, Noah Cates and Travis Sanheim each found the back of the net against Darcy Kuemper.
Kopitar answered after the first Philadelphia goal with in his 11th goal of the season, a wide open tap-in giving him nine points in his last nine games.
For the first time since interim head coach D.J. Smith took over the duties behind the bench, Los Angeles failed to out-hit the opposition – losing the battle on the boards 20-18. Philadelphia's aggressiveness was on full display, playing like a team in desperate need of two points at this point in the season.
Adrian Kempe returned to the lineup after being scratched prior to Monday's win over the New York Rangers. The team-leader in points detailed the turning point that led to Los Angeles' 23rd loss at home this season.
"We gave up too many odd-man rushes tonight and that created too much momentum for them," Kempe said.
Smith, who owns a 4-3-2 record in nine games since Jim Hiller's firing, echoed Kempe's statement.
"We can't give up two-on-one's," Smith said. "That's not the way we play."
While it was a night of celebration for the 20-year veteran in Kopitar, the newest Kings star made his presence felt. Artemi Panarin, the 34-year-old fresh off returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being traded by the New York Rangers on Feb. 4, notched a special teams goal on the fourth power-play of the night – tying the game at three with 9:32 remaining in the third period.
"You can see when he's (Panarin) out there how dangerous he is," Smith said. "The best players in the league are the best players in the league for a reason."
The goal swung momentum back in Los Angeles’ favor, capping off a persistent push after multiple missed opportunities earlier in this crucial match. With the game tightening and both sides trading chances down the stretch, neither team was able to break through as regulation winded down.
For the 26th time this season, 60 minutes would not be enough time to decide the game for Los Angeles.
After five minutes of overtime did not generate a winner, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov made quick work of LA in shootout, firing two shots past Kuemper and securing a monumental win on the road for a Flyers team sitting six points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Kings look to rebound and hold onto the final wild card position as they close out the quick two-game home stand with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the red-hot Buffalo Sabres.
"(Buffalo) seems like they win every single night," Smith said. "We have to be at our best."