KINGS: Los Angeles caps off perfect homestand with overtime win over Lightning

LOS ANGELES — Coming off two home wins where they scored six goals apiece, the Kings hoped for a homestand sweep before their upcoming road trip to Western Canada. Facing a red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning team on a five-game winning streak, Los Angeles rose to the challenge down the stretch to take a 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.

The matchup was a battle between the Kings’ stout penalty kill and the Lightning’s electric power play unit. Tampa Bay dominated special teams, going two for three on the power play. It also scored the late equalizer on a six-on-five play with its netminder pulled, displaying its offensive prowess with the extra attacker. Working with 11 forwards and seven defensemen once again, it was LA’s blueliners who stepped up when it mattered most. The Kings got too comfortable in the third period and blew a 3-1 lead, but defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov answered the call in the extra frame to send fans home happy.

“We did a good job on the PK, that wasn’t really the issue,” said interim head coach Jim Hiller. “[The Lightning] executed when they had a chance, and they buried.”

Goaltender Cam Talbot made 22 saves for LA. He benefited from the Bolts’ offensive stagnancy to begin the game, but as the match progressed, Tampa Bay beat him on three different occasions.

Winger Adrian Kempe set the tone for Los Angeles in the first period as he planted himself in goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy’s crease, received a perfect pass from center Anže Kopitar and knocked in the Kings’ first goal of the game.

Kempe has been aggressive and dynamic since returning from an upper-body injury he suffered in February. He’s scored in all but two games in March and is now riding a three-game multi-point streak. The 27-year-old has been eager to make an impact, charging loose pucks and using his physicality to his advantage.

“[Kempe] is so fast, when he’s physical, he’s on people,” said Hiller. “He’s moving his feet. He’s engaged in the game and he’s been scoring goals lately too.”

The Kings almost headed into the first intermission with the lead until center Brayden Point notched his 41st goal of the season with just six seconds left in the period. Scoring on the power play, the Lightning’s top-heavy extra-man unit caught Los Angeles’ penalty kill off guard.

The even score didn’t last too long, though. Early in the second period, with Vasilevskiy out of position, winger Trevor Moore tapped in the go-ahead goal for the Kings. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois had the helper, his sixth point in the last five games.

About a minute through the third period, LA found itself with a two-on-one chance with blueliner Mikey Anderson and winger Kevin Fiala leading the rush. While the Kings have often struggled with odd-man opportunities this year, Anderson decided to not pass to his forward and took the wrist shot himself, burying the puck in the net to give Los Angeles a two-goal cushion. It was Anderson’s second goal of the season and his first since October 27.

“We knew it was going to be a fight,” said Anderson. “Both teams defended pretty good.”

Tampa Bay wasn’t going to go down without a fight. Bolts winger Steven Stamkos stole the show late in the third period, notching goals 28 and 29 on the season to send the game to overtime. The first one—late on the power play with four and a half minutes left in the period—was a snipe from the slot. The second came on a wrister with Vasilevskiy on the bench and just 46 seconds left in regulation.

Heading into extra time, the Lightning held all of the momentum, but the Kings knew they had to respond to avoid blowing the game. Los Angeles only needed 25 seconds of overtime to put the nail in the coffin; on a defensive meltdown for the Bolts, Gavrikov found a wide-open lane, flew down the ice and wristed a shot for the victory.

This was a huge win for the Kings, as they still narrowly lead Vegas for third place in the Pacific Division after the Golden Knights defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Saturday. Just three points behind the Edmonton Oilers for second, LA’s upcoming meetings with the Vancouver Canucks, Oilers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets will all be critical. The road trip could make or break the Kings’ Pacific standing and momentum heading into the final stretch of regular season bouts.

“A lot of teams are battling for big points down the stretch,” said winger Quinton Byfield. “It was a good matchup for us, and I think we came to the test, but it’s a really big road trip for us.”

With eight wins in their last 12 games, the Kings might have just found a spark with only a dozen games remaining before the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In a season full of ups and downs, injuries and a coaching switch, Los Angeles has overcome plenty of adversity, and hopes for a deep playoff run.

The Kings will face the Western Conference’s best, the Vancouver Canucks, on Monday at 6 p.m. at Rogers Arena.