Alex Laferriere scored a tiebreaking goal early in the second period to lift the visiting Los Angeles Kings to a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Los Angeles defensemen Mikey Anderson and Andreas Englund each scored a goal before Adrian Kempe converted into the empty net late in the third period.
David Rittich turned aside 26 shots to help the Kings snap a three-game winless skid overall (0-1-2) and defeat the Canadiens for the seventh straight time.
Montreal defenseman Justin Barron scored a goal and Sam Montembeault made 28 saves. The Canadiens, however, went 0-for-5 on the power play to mark the first time they failed to convert with the man advantage in a game this season.
Montreal defenseman David Savard was acknowledged to the crowd at Bell Centre during the first period for skating in his 800th career NHL game on Thursday.
Unfortunately for the Canadiens, defenseman Mike Matheson sustained an upper-body injury and was ruled out for the game prior to the start of the third period.
Defenseman Jordan Spence’s shot from the point was deflected in the high slot by Laferriere and past Montembeault to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead at 1:37 of the second period. The goal was Laferriere’s third of the season, with all three coming in the last three games.
Montembeault, however, preserved the one-goal deficit by denying Kevin Fiala on a penalty shot with 12:50 remaining in the third period. Fiala, who was hooked by rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, also was thwarted by Montembeault on a breakaway in the first period.
Englund’s wrist shot from the slot beat Montembeault to provide insurance with 2:58 remaining in the third period.
Barron took advantage of an overcommitted Rittich and beat the goaltender to the far post on a wraparound to open the scoring 7:02 of the first period. The goal was Barron’s first of the season.
Anderson’s blast from the point beat a screened Montembeault to forge a tie with 1:40 remaining in the first period. Anderson’s goal was his first of the season.
–Field Level Media
