Fight Night: LA Kings Snap Three-Game Skid, Win 3-0 Over Canucks

The LA Kings (46-25-10) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks in their home finale. Los Angeles received goals from Arthur Kaliyev, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Drew Doughty. Netminder Joonas Korpisalo earned his first shutout in a Kings sweater and first regular-season shutout in four years.

First Period

In what was a relatively slow start for both teams, the Kings didn’t register their first shot on net until over five minutes into the game.

Vladislav Gavrikov drew a penalty with 8:36 left in the frame, sending Los Angeles to the powerplay. However, the Kings didn’t get anything going until approximately 45 seconds left on the man advantage. Then they opted to play a puck possession game until the Canucks were back to full strength and never got a shot off.

Shortly after the penalty was killed off, Conor Garland very nearly had a clean look in front at the other end, but Carl Grundstrom got his stick in there to break up the play.

Joonas Korpisalo came up big on a couple of occasions in the first period, including perhaps the best look for Vancouver on Brock Boeser’s wrister from the left wing.

Then with the Kings on the penalty kill and under ten seconds left, Boeser had another look on the right side, but Korpisalo turned it aside just before the first-period horn.

Shots were 8-5 Vancouver after 20 minutes.

Second Period

With 1:52 of penalty kill time carrying over, the Kings began the second period shorthanded. However, Adrian Kempe received a stretch pass from Matt Roy, leading to a good 2-on-1 chance for Los Angeles, but Kempe’s shot was turned aside.

Todd McLellan’s group started to find their footing after killing off the penalty, spending a good amount of time in the attacking zone, and pulling ahead in shots on goal.

The Kings kept the momentum in their favor when Sean Durzi took exception to Sheldon Dries’ hit on Blake Lizotte, with Durzi and Dries dropping the gloves. Durzi was assessed an extra two minutes for instigating, putting LA back on the PK.

Then with under five minutes left in the frame, Arthur Kaliyev opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season.

Behind the net, Lizotte did the heavy lifting, maintaining possession of the puck before sending a wraparound pass to the front to Kaliyev, who was initially denied on a fluttering shot before zipping the rebound five-hole on Vancouver netminder Collin Delia.

Shortly thereafter, Adrian Kempe and J.T. Miller dropped the gloves in what was a chippy period throughout.

The Kings outshot the Canucks 11-7 in the middle frame, taking a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Third Period

Los Angeles kept the gas pedal down to start the third, with Vladislav Gavrikov doubling up the Kings lead at the 4:03 mark.

Trevor Moore’s forecheck in the Vancouver defensive zone led to a turnover over. Phillip Danault corralled the puck, sent it back to Moore, who was deep in the attacking zone and waiting for Gavrikov to join the rush. The former dished the puck to his teammate, and Gavrikov wristed a shot past Delia for his sixth goal of the year and second in his last three games.

The remainder of the period was relatively uneventful in the best way possible. No drama. No heart palpitations.

The Canucks pulled Delia with 2:22 left in regulation, and Drew Doughty sent a 200-foot shot down ice that found the back of the net. Dagger.

With the win, Korpisalo picked up his first regular-season shutout since December 16, 2019.

The Kings will wrap up their regular season in Anaheim on Thursday, with puck drop set for 7:00 pm PT.