Canucks down Kings, complete sweep of California trip

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th November, 01:22 2024

Nov 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander (21) fights for the puck against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Quinn Hughes collected a goal and an assist to lead the visiting Vancouver Canucks to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Conor Garland, Jake DeBrusk and J.T. Miller also scored for the Canucks, who completed a sweep of the three California teams during their road trip. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 25 saves.

Quinton Byfield and Vladislav Gavrikov replied for the Kings, who had their modest two-game winning streak end. Goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 shots.

DeBrusk broke a 1-1 tie at 5:51 of the second period with his third goal of the season. Hughes threaded a pass across the ice to the bottom of the right circle, and DeBrusk deked out Kuemper before slipping the puck into the cage. DeBrusk has scored in three consecutive games after being blanked in the first nine clashes of the campaign.

Hughes extended the lead at 2:44 of the third period by working his way along the blue line before sending a long, seeing-eye shot that found the net for his third goal of the season.

Gavrikov made it a one-goal game with his first goal of the season at 13:57 of the third period, but Miller's empty-net goal with 74 seconds remaining, his fifth tally of the season, sealed the comeback victory.

Byfield opened the scoring 103 seconds into the clash with his second goal of the season and second in as many games. The big forward gained the puck at the blue line, zoomed past a defender and then tucked a backhand shot into the cage.

Garland drew the Canucks even during a five-minute power play after Kings forward Tanner Jeannot was assessed a major for a head hit on Brock Boeser. Garland put the puck into the crease from the left side, and he was credited with his fourth goal of the campaign when Kuemper knocked the puck into his own net.

Having received a match penalty for his hit on Boeser, who did not return, Jeannot will have his infraction automatically reviewed by the league.

The Kings also were without defenseman Mikey Anderson for the final period. Anderson left the game after he was hit in the head by a puck shot from the point.

--Field Level Media

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