The Los Angeles Kings (9-5-4) continued their three-game Canadian road trip as they traveled to face the Toronto Maple Leafs (8-9-1) in a dominant West Coast-East Coast showdown. Darcy Kuemper was strong for the Kings, while Dennis Hildeby protected the net for Toronto. In an epic match, the Kings had the upper hand and grabbed the two points for their next match against the Ottawa Senators.
Maple Leafs lead 2-0
In the first 20 minutes after puck drop, the Kings and Maple Leafs clashed in a physical period. Los Angeles threw a lot of hits and Kuemper made several key saves to keep the game scoreless. However, at 11:54, Bobby McMann scored his fifth goal of the season as he put the Maple Leafs up 1–0. The Kings were determined and hungry to get on the board, but were unable to tap the puck. Instead, Toronto played their luck when John Tavares scored his tenth of the season at 3:21, extending the Leafs’ lead to 2-0. The Kings returned to the locker rooms, visibly frustrated.
Kings Come to the board
The second period started with the Kings taking a more aggressive stance, although the Maple Leafs responded by laying more hits. This defensive pressure held until the 1:09 mark, when Kings forward Warren Foegele finally broke the dry spell by scoring his third goal of the season in his hometown with a quick wrist shot. As the intense pressure mounted on both sides, Kevin Fiala tied the game with a wrist shot of his own and his ninth of the season.
Just when the Kings thought luck was on their side, Toronto immediately struck back. Tavares scored his second goal of the night to regain the lead for the Maple Leafs. Once again, the Kings found themselves behind as they prepared for the final twenty minutes of play.
Kings tie it up
With twenty minutes to go the action was absolutely intense, with both teams fighting aggressively to take those two crucial points. Both goalkeepers were called and locked up. Kuemper again came up big with some excellent saves, and Hildeby defended his crease for Toronto, refusing to give in when the Kings pressed harder. Finally, Alex Laferriere found his way past the ‘wall’ as he leveled the match at 3-3 with a stunning tip-in goal. The final few minutes of regulation ended with the tension heading straight into overtime.
Leaves cannot score
It didn’t take long for the Kings to end it in overtime. At 4:25, Quinton Byfield sealed the deal with a slap shot that flew past Hildeby and into his net. The Kings earned the 4-3 overtime victory against the Maple Leafs.
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