LOS ANGELES — The Kings will take unconventional wins.
J.T. Miller’s 6-on-5 goal with 27 seconds remaining in the third period brought the New York Rangers within one, but Anton Forsberg and the Kings blocked out the noise the rest of the way.
LA’s top netminder, Darcy Kuemper, left the game in the second period with a reported upper-body injury. Jim Hiller did not provide any further updates on Kuemper’s injury status. Los Angeles was also without Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Corey Perry returned to the lineup for the first time in eight days.
The Kings saw three different lines contribute goals, with defenseman Brandt Clarke helping with offensive breakouts and passing. Clarke played over 23 minutes, his highest total since Dec. 2.
A critical moment saw the Kings kill off nearly two minutes’ worth of a Rangers’ 5-on-3 power play. Forsberg made 27 total saves, including multiple important ones on the penalty kill.
Jonathan Quick, who won two Stanley Cups with the Kings, returned to Los Angeles and started in goal for New York. Former Kings blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov returned to LA for the first time since leaving in free agency.
Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner reported from Crypto.com Arena and talked about the game on Skate of Thrones, TOT’s Kings podcast.