LOS ANGELES — It was supposed to be a night where Alexander Ovechkin inched closer to history. But the Kings made sure the focus was on them instead, winning 3-0.
Thursday night featured the NHL’s top team, the Washington Capitals, winners of five straight with the man nine goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record of 894. Former King Pierre-Luc Dubois returned to Crypto.com Arena for the first time as a Capital—receiving boos and jeers—along with blueliner Matt Roy.
Darcy Kuemper had the chance to face his former team, too, as David Rittich suited up in net for LA during the first matchup between the two teams, when the Caps won 3-1. Kuemper was lights-out with 21 saves and kept his third clean sheet of the season.
“We’ve been doing a great job of embracing the challenges of playing these top teams all year,” Kuemper said. “They bring out our best hockey. We feel, especially on home ice here, that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, if we play our game, we’re going to come out in front.”
The Kings’ penalty kill limited five Washington power plays, a major feat since the Capitals boast the best offense in the league. Forechecking was the name of the game for LA. It allowed Warren Foegele to score the first goal on a puck battle near the crease, and that would be the only goal until the third period.
LA scored twice within a minute to take a commanding three-goal lead toward the beginning of the third frame thanks to Kevin Fiala and company. Fiala one-timed a cross-ice pass from Anže Kopitar, and then 37 seconds later, set up Quinton Byfield for the final goal, Byfield’s fifth in the last five games.
Ovechkin, while inevitably a factor, was quiet.
“Our penalty kill did a really good job when we were shorthanded and that’s where [Ovechkin] is most dangerous,” said head coach Jim Hiller. “We did a really good job of taking it away.”
Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner was at the game and discussed LA’s fourth consecutive victory on Skate of Thrones, TOT’s LA Kings podcast.