2 studs, 1 dud from LA Kings OT win vs. Columbus

Avoiding a near-disaster in the final frame in the third period today against the Columbus Blue Jackets (32-21-10) on the road in overtime in the extra frame this afternoon, the Los Angeles Kings (26-23-14) new interim head coach DJ Smith helped his team get on the right side of the win column in the standings early this week on Monday.

Adrian Kempe's overtime goal helps the Los Angeles Kings stave off a late-game rally from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday

Adrian Kempe scored the clutch goal in the extra frame in overtime today to help the Kings stave off a late run in the final frame in the third period by the Blue Jackets in Columbus on the road. He got a slapshot past Columbus goalie Jet Greaves from the circle in the offensive zone to give the Kings the 5-4 win on the scoreboard today over Columbus vs. the Blue Jackets.

The Kings absolutely dominated the puck possession battle on the ice in the overtime frame today vs. the Blue Jackets on the road this afternoon. Beside Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov throwing the puck away in his own defensive zone this afternoon, I don't think I saw Columbus touch the puck in the extra frame in overtime more than once.

Here are two studs, and one dud, from the Kings' important 5-4 overtime win over the Blue Jackets on the road on Monday afternoon at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Stud: Adrian Kempe, W

There is a valid case to make today that Kempe deserved to be the first star of the game offensively for the Kings on the road vs. the Blue Jackets in Columbus. Kempe not only scored the game-winning goal in the extra frame in overtime for the Kings this afternoon on the road, but he also scored the goal that tied the game up on the scoreboard late in the middle frame in the second period.

Kempe's goal in the middle frame today vs. Columbus helped the Kings gain momentum that would eventually push the team to retake the lead on the scoreboard in the final frame early in the third period against the Blue Jackets.

The goal for Kempe in the extra frame in overtime this afternoon against the Blue Jackets on the road in Columbus gave him two important milestone markers for the Kings this regular season. He became the career overtime leader for the franchise in goals and he set the record for the most overtime goals in a single season for the Kings today vs. Columbus on the road.