Alex Turcotte picked up his first NHL points with a goal and an assist as the visiting Los Angeles Kings beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Wednesday in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.
David Rittich made 39 saves for Los Angeles, which had lost four straight (0-2-2). The Kings also got goals from Carl Grundstrom, Trevor Lewis and Kevin Fiala.
Filip Forsberg and Philip Tomasino scored for the Predators, who have lost three straight (0-2-1). Juuse Saros made 20 saves.
Grundstrom gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 8:51 of the first period. He controlled a loose puck at center ice, entered the offensive zone two-on-one with Turcotte, kept the puck and beat Saros with a wrist shot from the right circle for his first goal since Nov. 25.
Turcotte, the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft, made it 2-0 at 5:36 of the second period. Trevor Moore went the length of the ice with the puck before passing from the slot to Turcotte, who scored on a high wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle.
Turcotte was appearing in his second NHL game of the season, the 14th of his career.
Tyson Barrie appeared to pull the Predators within 2-1 soon after, but the Kings challenged the play. After a video review, the goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference.
Saros stopped Anze Kopitar on a short-handed breakaway attempt early in the third period.
Forsberg pulled the Predators within 2-1 shortly after that power play ended. Ryan McDonagh’s shot from the left point deflected off the back wall and out to the left of Rittich, where Forsberg lifted it home.
Lewis gave the Kings a 3-1 lead at 13:20. Quinton Byfield won a puck battle behind the net and passed in front to Lewis, who one-timed the puck past Saros. Each member of the Kings’ fourth line scored.
Tomasino cut the deficit to 3-2 at 16:35. After Tomasino stole the puck in the Kings’ zone, a crisp passing sequence brought it back to him, and he scored from the low slot.
Fiala scored into an empty net at 18:51 for the 4-2 final.
Four Nashville shots hit the post in the third period.
–Field Level Media
