Los Angeles 5, Columbus 1
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Referees:
Wes McCauley, Furman South
Linesmen:
Trent Knorr, Matt MacPherson
Attendance:
16980
By Field Level Media
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored two goals for the Los Angeles Kings in a 5-1 win against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Quinton Byfield and Drew Doughty each had a goal and an assist, Kevin Fiala also scored and Cam Talbot made 33 saves and contributed an assist for the Kings, who have won four in a row.
Adam Boqvist scored and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 31 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped three of four.
Byfield gave the Kings a 1-0 lead with a skillful individual effort at 18:22 of the first period.
He took possession of the puck after a faceoff win by the Kings in the Columbus zone. Byfield raced across both blue lines before Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski attempted to cut him off at the top of the left circle. Byfield pulled the puck between Werenski's skates, kicked it in front of him and scored with a backhand while on one knee.
Columbus' Johnny Gaudreau appeared to score his first goal since Dec. 29 earlier in the period, but the play was challenged by the Kings for goaltender interference and waved off after a video review. It was the second straight game that Gaudreau lost a goal to a coaches' challenge.
The Blue Jackets had just one shot on goal the final 10 minutes of the first period.
The Kings moved ahead 2-0 with a power-play goal at 1:27 of the second period.
Los Angeles rookie defenseman Brandt Clarke sent the puck through all three zones and off the end board. Dubois was the first to the puck, and he scored with a one-timer from the inside edge of the left circle.
Columbus cut it to 2-1 at 4:41 of the second when Boqvist banked the puck off Talbot's skate.
Dubois re-established the two-goal lead when he stopped a centering pass from Byfield and shot it between Merzlikins' pads to make it 3-1 at 11:49 of the second period.
The Kings thought they moved 4-1 on a goal by Doughty at 18:15 of the second, but it was wiped out after Columbus requested a video review for goalie interference.
Fiala made it 4-1 when he scored with a wrist shot from the right circle while on a power play at 15:56 of the third, and Doughty added on with 22 seconds left.
Kings left winger Viktor Arvidsson, who missed the first 50 games this season while recovering from back surgery, did not return after playing just the first 17 seconds of the game. He exited due to a lower-body injury.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Columbus |
|
Los Angeles |
|
Adam Boqvist 1 |
Points |
Pierre-Luc Dubois 2 |
|
Adam Boqvist 1 |
Goals |
Pierre-Luc Dubois 2 |
|
Boone Jenner 1 |
Assists |
Quinton Byfield 1 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Pierre-Luc Dubois 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Elvis Merzlikins .857 |
Save Percentage |
Cam Talbot .970 |
|
Elvis Merzlikins 30 |
Saves |
Cam Talbot 32 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Columbus
|
33 |
1 |
0-3 |
0-2 |
4 |
27 |
| Los Angeles
|
35 |
5 |
2-2 |
3-3 |
6 |
30 |
Upcoming Games
-
Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Kings have a W/L % of .630 after a win and .407 after a loss.
-
Columbus will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .111 after a win and .417 after a loss.
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