The Los Angeles Kings (31-18-8) hit the road for a three-game trip, with tonight's stop against the Dallas Stars (38-19-2). With two important points on the line, the Kings, boasting 70 points, faced an intense matchup against the Dallas Stars. Darcy Kuemper was in net for Los Angeles while Jake Oettinger took his position for Dallas. The Stars ultimately defeated the Kings 6-2.
First Period Action in Texas
The opening period witnessed a flurry of action from the forwards as both teams battled consistently for possession of the puck. Five minutes into the game, Jason Robertson scored a snap shot past Kuemper's net, his twenty-fifth of the season, putting the Stars up on the board by one. Warren Foegele answered back with a quick shot at the 13:16 mark. Tied 1-1, the tension was thick, unsure of who the next play would favor. As the period slowly hit the half-way point, Matt Duchene led the Stars 2-1 with a tip-in. The Kings fought relentlessly with no luck. Just a few minutes away from intermission, Logan Stankoven created a scoring chance that Kuemper and neither of the defensemen could clear away. The Kings retreated to the tunnel, with the 3-1 lead pressing down on them.
On Edge in the Second Frame
After the first twenty minutes, the Kings and Stars returned from a short rest and regroup to begin the second period. Five minutes in, Trevor Lewis was given a 2-minute minor for tripping against Robertson and that opened the door for Wyatt Johnston, putting Dallas up 4-1 on a power-play. At the 8:00 minute mark, the Stars had outshot the Kings 22-13, an advantage that highlighted LA's struggles. Trevor Moore fired back with a wrap-around goal as he snuck it into Oettinger's crease. With forty minutes of hockey over, the Stars were ahead by two goals. Kings led in faceoffs, 23-18.
Third Period Underway
In the final stretch, the Kings ran down the clock, with no ability for a comeback. At 15:55, Stankoven netted his second of the game, a backhand goal, sealing Dallas's victory. Not generating enough scoring chances against the Stars, Los Angeles found themselves consistently outshot and defenseless. Sam Steel buried it, a shorthanded goal, making it 6-2, while on the Kings' power play. Then, Moore and Quinton Byfield challenged Oettinger, but he denied both attempts, keeping the score in Dallas's favor. When the clock hit zero, the home team secured two crucial points and sent the Kings onto their next opponent, the St. Louis Blues.