After finally ending their losing streak on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Kings tried to carry that momentum into Las Vegas with a road game against the Golden Knights the next night. This was a pivotal game as the Kings, and the rest of the Pacific Division, are chasing the Golden Knights. It was the final regular season game against them after the Kings won 2 of the first three.
It was an impressive performance as the Kings controlled the game right from the start with two goals in the first period and they would build a three goal lead early in the second. However, the Golden Knights are a good team and they would fight back, cutting the lead to only one before Warren Foegele added a goal near the end of the second period.
The third period was more of the same, as the Kings would build a three-goal lead twice in the period before the Golden Knight scored the final two goals of the night. The Kings would do enough to hold onto a 6-5 victory and will be looking to keep the momentum going on Tuesday against the New York Islanders at home.
These are some of the top takeaways from the game on Sunday night.
Anze Kopitar finding success in front of the net
After only one goal in 21 games between January and February, Anze Kopitar now has three in five games in March, including one in each of the past two games. Both of those games, Kopitar has been able to make an impact in front of the net as he tipped shots to get the puck in the back of the net.
It is worth noting that both of those games included the newest Los Angeles Kings player in Andrei Kuzmenko. The Kings traded with the Flyers for him and he has played on the line with Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
As the Kings enter the stretch run of the regular season and fight for a playoff spot, they certainly can use this type of performance moving forward from their captain.