2 studs, 1 dud from LA Kings durable OT win over St. Louis

A win in the extra time in overtime over the St. Louis Blues on home ice at Crypto.com Arena was huge for the Los Angeles Kings (30-26-18) was huge for new interim head coach DJ Smith and his team to beat a pretty tough opponent on April 1.

Trevor Moore delivers a clutch and resilient 2-1 overtime win in extra time for the Los Angeles Kings vs. the St. Louis Blues

Beating the Blues on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday on home ice moved the Kings and Smith into a wildcard spot in the standings in the West this regular season. It also helps to give the Kings and Smith and the coaching staff some momentum going into a huge game against the Nashville Predators for this spring for the playoff race on Thursday.

The Kings got a lead on the scoreboard late in the middle frame in the second period, on a goal from forward Adrian Kempe on special teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage, to get the edge by a score of 1-0. The goaltender was really solid for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff on the ice yesterday in the West.

Winger Trevor Moore won the game on the scoreboard for the Kings in the extra frame in overtime on a really great play in the offensive zone, scoring the puck for the team for the two points in the standings in the West.

Here are two studs and one dud from the Kings resilient 2-1 overtime win in extra time on April 1 against the Blues on home ice at Crypto.com Arena.

Stud: Trevor Moore, W

Moore has delivered in a couple of clutch times in the extra frame in overtime and in the shootout in the West in the Pacific Division down the stretch this regular season for the Kings in the standings. He's already tied the number of game-winning goals this regular season that he had this past year in the 2024-25 campaign, with two for the Kings in the West.

"I think Mooresie is such a reliable player for us, he always gives you an honest effort. He’s team first. He never complains. In today’s game, a guy misses a shift or doesn’t get an o-zone draw, there’s guys that dwell on those things. Mooresie is complete team, always is. I think over this last little bit, he’s been as good as anybody. He’s dangerous, he’s scoring, as you can see, that speed is a big difference. I have no problem putting him on the ice at any time in the game."

DJ Smith on Trevor Moore

When the Kings needed someone to step up in clutch time in the extra time in overtime, Moore delivered exactly what the team needed in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season. He showed off incredibly speed and skill to make the play happen that won the Kings the game on the scoreboard in the extra frame in overtime yesterday.

Moore glided down the wing and scored the game's second goal and the game-winning goal on the scoreboard for the Kings in the extra frame in overtime yesterday in a clutch moment.

Dud: Taylor Ward, W

A highlight of the game yesterday last night for the Kings on home ice vs. the Blues on April 1 for forward Taylor Ward was giving the team a lift of energy when he dropped the gloves with Jack Finley early in the final frame in the third period when LA had the lead on the scoreboard.

I was hoping for a bit more out of Ward after he got back in the active roster lineup offensively for Smith and the Kings and the coaching staff in the middle of this week vs. St. Louis on home ice. Ward only played under a half-dozen minutes in time on the ice yesterday for the Kings in the overtime win in extra time vs. the Blues by a score of 2-1.

Stud: Anton Forsberg, G

The opening frame in the first period yesterday between the Kings and Blues on the scoreboard was really quiet. When the Kings weren't able to get on the scoreboard in the game yesterday in the opening frame in the first period, goalie Anton Forsberg held steady and shut the Blues down in net on the ice.

It's clear to me that Forsberg was the MVP of this game on the ice and in the extra frame in overtime for the Kings yesterday in the clutch 2-1 win over the Blues in the West in the middle of this week on Wednesday.

There was a crucial save that Forsberg made to keep the game tied on the scoreboard and keep the momentum on the side of the Kings in the middle frame in the second period when he made a lateral move to stop the Blues late in the opening frame yesterday.

"Anton Forsberg works extremely hard away from the rink at all times, takes care of himself, and when the opportunity comes, he’s able to do things like this tonight and he was exceptional. Especially a couple of those reads there. It’s easy to root for a guy that tries and gives you everything."

Smith on Anton Forsberg

Forsberg played well in net even after the Kings got their first goal on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period on special teams on the power play.