2 studs, 1 dud from LA Kings critical shootout win vs. Nashville

A bumpy but successful night on the ice and on the scoreboard saw the Los Angeles Kings (32-26-19) and interim head coach DJ Smith defeat the Nashville Predators in a huge game with playoff implications on home ice early this week on Monday night (April 6). In the biggest game of this regular season in the West down the stretch in this upcoming next couple of weeks, the Kings got the points they needed to in the extra time in the shootout yesterday.

Scott Laughton scores the game-tying goal in a clutch win for Anton Forsberg and the Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville on home ice

A combination of goaltending from Anton Forsberg and a clutch performance in the extra time in the shootout yesterday on home ice led to a 3-2 win on the scoreboard for the Kings in the standings in the West this regular season down the stretch. Smith and the Kings had a good start in the opening frame in the first period, gaining an early lead in the game on the scoreboard.

Every single matchup between the Kings and Predators on the ice this regular season in the West this past few months resulted in going beyond overtime in the extra frame in the shootout. This was the Kings' first win this regular season in the West in the shootout vs. Nashville.

Nashville pushed back on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period. But the Kings won the game on the scoreboard when it mattered most in clutch time in the shootout yesterday.

Here are two studs and one dud from the Kings crucial and clutch 3-2 shootout win after the extra time against the Predators on home ice at Crypto.com Arena on April 6.

Stud: Scott Laughton, C

There's no doubt in my mind that veteran center Scott Laughton continues to prove on the ice that he was a great under-the-radar get for Ken Holland and the Kings and the coaching staff on the block at the trade deadline this past month in the West.

The third line forward group in the active roster lineup for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff this regular season down the stretch came up huge yesterday vs. Nashville on the scoreboard. The two goals the Kings scored on the ice in regulation yesterday on home ice vs. Nashville at Crypto Arena were from the third line.

Laughton scored the eventual game-tying goal on the scoreboard yesterday in the middle frame in the second period late. He scored on a nice play where Jared Wright made a play behind the net and fed Laughton for the goal in the middle frame in the second period yesterday.

He's scored two goals on home ice in this past three games this past week for the Kings offensively.