Kings continue surge with easy 5-1 win over Rangers

Field Level Media|published: Sat 14th December, 15:57 2024

Dec 14, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) attempts to make a save on a shot on goal attempt by Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele (37) in the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings erupted for three goals in the second period to take a commanding lead and finished off 5-1 road victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Warren Foegele each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory, while Darcy Kuemper turned aside 31 of 32 shots he faced.

Anze Kopitar added two assists for the Kings, who won for the seventh time in their past eight games.

Byfield, Kempe, and Phillip Danault all scored in the first 5:04 of the second period to chase Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin from the net.

The Kings jumped out to the lead 7:05 into the contest as Turcotte took a crafty feed from Kempe on a 2-on-1 rush and scored.

Less than a minute after the game's opening goal Connor Mackey tried to spark the Rangers as he fought with Samuel Helenius.

With 4:54 left in the first period Byfield fed Foegele out in front of the net and after failing to score on his first shot, he picked up his own rebound and doubled up the Kings' advantage.

Byfield then increased the Kings' lead to 3-0 just under three minutes into the second period as he took the feed from Foegele and wired the puck past Shesterkin.

The Kings saw their lead grow to 4-0 as Kempe took a no-look backward pass from Kopitar and fired it into the empty cage with 15:20 left in the second.

Danault scored a rebound goal just 24 seconds later, forcing the Rangers to turn to former Kings netminder Jonathan Quick, who stopped all 13 shots he faced in relief.

Filip Chytil got the Rangers on the board with 7:43 left in the second period as his harmless shot from the boards bounced off a defenseman and snuck past Kuemper.

Just over a minute later Chytil drew a penalty, but the Rangers were unable to capitalize on the man advantage as Vincent Trocheck's wrist shot rang off the crossbar.

Mika Zibanejad sprung loose for a shorthanded breakaway with 13:48 remaining but was unable to slide the puck through Kuemper's legs.

--Field Level Media

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