Kings bolster their playoff chances with 2-1 victory over Blue Jackets

Phillip Danault scored his career-high twenty fourth purpose, Dustin Brown additionally scored within the first interval and the Kings took a giant step towards a playoff berth with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday evening.

Jonathan Fast made 21 saves for the third-place Kings in simply their second win in six video games. The Kings couldn’t discover the online once more after their two first-period targets regardless of outshooting the Jackets 38-22, however their lead stood up in a tight-checking sport.

Kings coach Todd McLellan was happy together with his crew’s return to its defense-first kind after a 9-3 loss at Colorado on Wednesday. Los Angeles blocked a season-high 26 pictures.

“Felt much more prefer it ought to for our group,” McLellan mentioned. “We’re not a high-scoring crew. We’re snug in one-goal video games, tight video games, so it felt like we have been taking part in the kind of sport we would have liked to play. Tonight was way more acquainted to our group.”

Los Angeles is in a three-year playoff drought, however its possibilities of holding off Vegas for the third postseason spot within the Pacific Division improved earlier Saturday with Edmonton’s victory over fourth-place Vegas.

“This time of the 12 months, we’ll have a good time a win any means we are able to,” McLellan mentioned. “Ugly, from behind, a few of them you may not even deserve, however we want them and we’ll take them any means we are able to get them.”

By beating Columbus within the night, the Kings opened a three-point lead over the Golden Knights, who’ve one sport in hand. Los Angeles’ last 5 video games are all towards groups at present out of the playoff image.

“Clearly, the final sport, we weren’t glad, not comfortable,” Danault mentioned. “So we needed to bounce again, which we did instantly within the sport. Huge two factors, and each single sport goes to be massive till the top, so it’s a do-or-die.”

Sean Kuraly scored within the second interval and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 36 pictures for the Blue Jackets, who opened their three-game California street journey by shedding in regulation for under the second time in six video games.

“The emphasis to this sport was going to be a crew that was determined and going to come back out sturdy, and it wasn’t prefer it was a shock to us,” Kuraly mentioned. “So I assume that’s the irritating half. Simply gave them a pair that we’d prefer to have again, and Elvis saved us in it the entire evening.”

The Jackets have been formally eradicated from playoff rivalry earlier within the day with Washington’s 8-4 victory over Montreal. Columbus has missed the postseason in two straight seasons after incomes 4 consecutive playoff berths.

Brown scored simply 1:41 after the opening faceoff, changing a cross from Blake Lizotte on a 2-on-1 rush. The previous Los Angeles captain hadn’t scored a purpose since March 6, shortly earlier than he missed 14 video games in a monthlong damage absence.
Danault doubled the Kings’ lead later within the first with a pointy setup from Viktor Arvidsson. The purpose was Danault’s ninth level in 9 video games.

“They don’t surrender a lot,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen mentioned. “That crew, they’re an actual stingy crew, so that you’ve bought to battle on your ice, and also you knew you have been going to get their finest. That is just about a must-win for that crew. So I assumed we bought somewhat bit higher, and it’s good expertise for us.”

Kuraly trimmed LA’s lead early within the second when Ohio native Carson Meyer elevated a setup cross from behind the online over Fast and proper down onto Kuraly’s stick for a purpose within the middle’s return from a two-game damage absence.

“I did see him within the slot, however I used to be attempting to place it off of Jonathan Fast’s again and attempt to rating myself,“ mentioned Meyer, who has three factors in his first six NHL video games. “Nevertheless it labored out. I ought to have recognized he was going to the online anyway. He at all times is.”

Andreas Athanasiou returned from a 17-game absence since mid-March with an upper-body damage for the Kings.