The Nashville Predators (25-33-8, 58 points) kept the Los Angeles Kings (36-20-9, 81 points) off the board for 60 minutes, but Quinton Byfield broke the scoreless tie in overtime to lift the Kings to a 1-0 win Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Predators played a tight defensive game, holding Los Angeles to just six shots on goal through the first 40 minutes; but the Kings pulled away in the third, racking up 12 shots to Nashville's nine, and Byfield's game winner came at 3:18 of overtime.
Justus Annunen made 20 saves in the loss for Nashville, while Darcy Kuemper turned aside 24 shots to complete the shutout.
How the Predators Lined Up vs. Los Angeles
Forsberg-O'Reilly-Stamkos
Bunting-Sissons-Marchessault
L'Heureux-Svechkov-Vrana
Bellows-McCarron-Smith
Skjei-Blankenburg
Englund-Del Gaizo
Oesterle-Barron
Annunen
Saros
Extra: Evangelista, Stastney
IR: Josi, Lauzon, Wilsby
Predators at Kings: Live Updates
First Period (NSH 0, LAK 0)
The Predators' defense held the Kings to just four shots on goal in the first period, the first of which didn't even come until nearly 12 minutes into the frame. Annunen and Kuemper combined for 11 saves in the first period as the game remained scoreless heading into the first intermission.
Second Period (NSH 0, LAK 0)
The Predators outshot the Kings, 14-6, through two periods while both teams played a tight defensive game.
Nashville got a pair of chances on the man advantage early in the middle frame but was unable to covert.
Third Period (NSH 0, LAK 0)
Byfield scored the game winner at the 3:18 mark on a pass from Adrian Kempe for the 1-0 final.