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National Hockey League
Los Angeles 5, Chicago 4
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, April 18, 2024
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Referees: Trevor Hanson, Chris Schlenker
Linesmen: Kyle Flemington, Joe Mahon
Attendance: 18145

Adrian Kempe scored six seconds into overtime -- tied for the fastest OT goal in NHL history -- to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-4 win against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night in the regular-season finale.

Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals, including the game-tying goal during six-on-four play with 1:21 left, and he added an assist for the Kings (44-27-11, 99 points), who leapfrogged the Vegas Golden Knights (45-29-8, 98 points) for third place in the Pacific Division.

Kempe, Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore each had a goal and an assist, Phillip Danault had three assists and Cam Talbot made nine saves for Los Angeles, which will face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round for a third straight season.

Tyler Johnson, Joey Anderson and Ryan Donato scored five minutes apart early in the third period to give Chicago a 4-3 lead. Donato finished with two points.

Lukas Reichel also scored and Arvid Soderblom made 30 saves for the Blackhawks (23-53-6, 52 points), who ended the season on a six-game losing streak and with the second-fewest points in the NHL.

The Blackhawks were called for delay of game with 1:42 left when Philipp Kurashev chipped the puck over the glass and Talbot was pulled for a two-man advantage. Arvidsson then scored from the slot to tie it 4-4.

Reichel scored on a partial breakaway to give Chicago a 1-0 lead at 15:39 of the first period.

After the Kings outshot the Blackhawks 14-4 in the first period, they outshot Chicago 11-3 in the second.

Danault chased down a dump-in behind the Chicago net, circled around and fed Arvidsson for a one-timer from the left circle that squeezed through Soderblom's pads to tie it 1-1 at 4:37 of the second.

The Blackhawks appeared to score short-handed with 7:45 left in the second period when Jason Dickinson put in his own rebound. After a league-requested review, however, it was determined Dickinson scored with a distinct kicking motion.

Byfield ended a 19-game goal drought when he redirected a pass from Danault to move the Kings ahead 2-1 at 16:04 of the second. He became the fifth 20-goal scorer for the Kings this season.

Danault won another puck on the forecheck and passed it to Arvidsson, who made a touch pass to Moore for the one-timer that stretched the lead to 3-1 at 17:24 of the middle period.

Chicago, which played with 13 forwards and five defensemen, cut it to 3-2 at 1:28 of the third when Johnson scored with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle while on a power play.

Anderson scored with a backhand off a rush to tie it 3-3 at 3:42.

Donato then lifted his stick to redirect a point shot from MacKenzie Entwistle that moved Chicago ahead 4-3 at 6:28.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Los Angeles
Ryan Donato 2 Points Viktor Arvidsson 3
Ryan Donato 1 Goals Viktor Arvidsson 2
Ryan Donato 1 Assists Phillip Danault 3
Tyler Johnson 1 Power Play Goals Viktor Arvidsson 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Arvid Soderblom .857 Save Percentage Cam Talbot .692
Arvid Soderblom 30 Saves Cam Talbot 9
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Chicago 13 4 1-1 2-4 8 17
Los Angeles 35 5 2-4 0-1 2 30
Upcoming Games
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Edmonton. The Kings have a W/L % of .558 after a win and .513 after a loss.