Adrian Kempe’s Key Goal Helps Kings Secure Overtime Victory Over Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adrian Kempe netted his second goal of the night with just 1:26 remaining in overtime, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
The win propels the Kings closer in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, now trailing the Seattle Kraken by just one point.
Columbus managed to equalize late for the second consecutive home game. Kirill Marchenko scored on a power play at 18:04, forcing the match into overtime.
Brian Dumoulin contributed significantly with one goal and two assists. His teammate Scott Laughton, who recently joined the Kings from Toronto, scored for the second game in a row and added an assist. Artemi Panarin also found the net, and goaltender Anton Forsberg made 28 saves for the Kings in the first game of a five-game road trip.
Conversely, Connor Garland showcased his scoring ability for Columbus, registering two goals—his first since joining the team from Vancouver. Denton Mateychuk aided Garland with one goal and one assist. Jet Greaves turned away 26 shots in goal for the Blue Jackets, who have now suffered two consecutive losses on home ice.
The Blue Jackets sit two points behind the Boston Bruins, competing for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and three points behind the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division standings.
The Kings began strong, successfully killing off a high-sticking double minor to start the game. Dumoulin assisted Laughton’s goal at 6:46 in the first period, and Panarin extended the lead to 2-0 by 14:47 with his second goal since arriving from the New York Rangers on February 4.
Garland responded by trimming the deficit with 2:25 remaining in the first, snapping a career-long 24-game scoring drought. The second period saw Mateychuk tie the game at 9:07, followed by Garland’s second goal, which put Columbus ahead just 81 seconds later.
However, Kempe swiftly evened the score again at 5:51 in the second period, and Anze Kopitar’s assist marked his 167th on a game-tying goal, the most in Kings history.
Dumoulin scored again with 9:53 left in the third, but a power-play goal by Marchenko with 1:56 remaining left the score tied once more.
Injuries also marred Columbus’s effort; defenseman Erik Gudbranson exited the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
This matchup took place at an unusual afternoon time, having been rescheduled from January 26 due to a blizzard in Columbus.
The Kings’ next challenge awaits on Tuesday when they face the Boston Bruins.
