Kings head to Montreal with an NHL record on the line
With a three-goal, third-period comeback behind them and the opportunity to set an all-time NHL mark for the most consecutive road victories to start a season, the Kings pulled into Montreal for a rematch of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final against the Canadiens on Thursday.
A pair of closing-stanza goals greasier than any food item served at the Pomona Fairgrounds from Phillip Danault shifted momentum in a 3-0 game before Arthur Kaliyev’s snapper and then Drew Doughty’s slapper in overtime completed the Kings’ rally.
Now, Danault, Doughty and friends have the opportunity to win their 11th consecutive away game after tying the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres’ NHL record to begin a campaign on Tuesday in Columbus.
“I don’t think any of us are too worried about a record, we’re just coming in here trying to win games, but that’s awesome,” Doughty told Bally Sports. “We love 10 in a row. We’re a very strong team, we have full belief in every player on our team and we’re having a lot of fun right now.”
The jubilation of a triumph over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday dissipated quickly in Columbus. The Kings wobbled early and somewhat often, including their cession of an early power-play tally, their first in the month of December after allowing just two man-advantage markers in all of November.
Yet for a second consecutive game, the Kings dominated the third period, scoring three unanswered goals Sunday and Tuesday. Danault’s line with dynamic winger Kevin Fiala and leading goal-scorer Trevor Moore had just one shot on net through 40 minutes, prompting McLellan to “challenge” them, he mentioned after the game, in an effort to send a jolt through the entire bench.
“All of us looked in the mirror and we got better,” Danault told reporters.
As they head into a match with Danault’s former club, Montreal, the Kings’ offense, defense, depth and penalty kill have mirrored the synergistic melange of fries, gravy, cheese curds and smoked meats that comprise a steaming plate of poutine.
They’ve maintained the top penalty kill in the league, outscored every other franchise on a per-game basis and sat just an eyelash behind Vegas for the best defensive average entering Wednesday’s docket. That all left them in a tie with Vancouver for the best goal differential in pro hockey.
The Canadiens, on the other hand, sit in the bottom quarter of the league in all four of the aforementioned categories. They’ve managed a .500 points percentage, the same mark as the last-place Ottawa Senators in an Atlantic Division that has seven of its eight teams at .500 or better.
Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Mike Matheson lead the Habs offensively. None managed a point back on Nov. 25 when they visited the Kings and lost 4-0 at Crypto.com Arena. Moore potted two goals to match the contribution of the fourth line, and Pheonix Copley, who won his third straight decision Tuesday, earned his first shutout of 2023-24 and his second as a King.
Kings at Montreal
When: 4 p.m. Thursday
Where: Centre Bell, Montreal, Quebec
How to watch: Bally Sports West