Introduction to the Game
SEATTLE — The Kings built a four-goal lead then nearly squandered it all while tying a franchise record in their penultimate game of the regular season. Samuel Helenius scored twice, David Rittich made 29 saves, and the Kings spoiled the Seattle Kraken’s home finale with a 6-5 victory on Tuesday night, winning their fourth straight and tying the franchise records for single-season wins (48, set in 2015-16) and points (105, set in 1974-75).
The Game Summary
The Kings (48-24-9, 105 points) are already locked into a best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, and they secured home-ice advantage with a 5-0 win in Edmonton on Monday night. One night later, the Kings blew a 2-0 first-period cushion but responded with four unanswered goals over a five-plus minute stretch of game time between the second and third periods and survived Seattle’s comeback bid.
Key Players and Their Contributions
Warren Foegele gave the lead back to the Kings with 3:55 left in the second and Alex Laferriere made it 4-2 just 72 seconds later. Adrian Kempe and Helenius added third-period goals to make it 6-2. Alex Turcotte and Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist apiece for the Kings, and Kevin Fiala and Vladislav Gavrikov had two assists apiece.
The Turning Points
The Kings dominated five-on-five play on Tuesday, and they didn’t need a lot of shots on goal to end up with their 17th road win of the season. The Kings had just 14 total shots on target in the first 40 minutes. The Kings broke a 2-2 tie at 16:05 of the second period. Foegele took a pass from Phillip Danault to the left side of the net and muscled a backhander inside the far post.
The Kraken’s Comeback Attempt
Seattle nearly came all the way back with three straight goals from Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen, but the deficit proved too much. The Kraken tied it at 2-2 in the second period. Tye Kartye scored on a short-handed breakaway down the right wing at 5:26, and Brandon Montour tied it on a blast from the blue line with a man advantage at 13:24, his 18th goal of the season extending his career-high.
Post-Game Reactions
“It feels good,” Helenius told NHL.com after his first two-goal game in the NHL. “I’m not maybe known about goals, so it’s nice to get two in the same night. So, I’m happy for that.” Turcotte was hoping for more for his teammate. “That was awesome,” Turcotte told NHL.com of Helenius. “I was hoping he was going to get the hat trick, obviously.”
OILERS’ NURSE SUSPENDED 1 GAME FOR HIT ON BYFIELD
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has been suspended for his team’s final game of the regular season, but is eligible to return for the playoffs, after cross-checking Kings forward Quinton Byfield in the back of the head on Monday night. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the suspension Tuesday following a disciplinary hearing with Nurse, who avoided missing the series opener in the fourth consecutive first-round series between the Oilers and Kings.
Conclusion
The Kings close the regular season at home against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. With the win, the Kings have shown their strength and resilience, and they are ready to take on the challenges of the playoffs. The team’s ability to come back from a deficit and secure a win is a testament to their determination and skill.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the game between the Kings and the Kraken?
A: The final score was 6-5 in favor of the Kings.
Q: Who scored twice for the Kings in the game?
A: Samuel Helenius scored twice for the Kings.
Q: What is the Kings’ record for single-season wins?
A: The Kings tied the franchise record for single-season wins with 48 wins.
Q: Who was suspended for one game for hitting Quinton Byfield?
A: Darnell Nurse was suspended for one game for cross-checking Quinton Byfield in the back of the head.
