Canadiens Rally Past Kings with Late Goals from Slafkovsky and Suzuki
The Montreal Canadiens secured a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, fueled by a late-game comeback orchestrated by Juraj Slafkovsky and captain Nick Suzuki. The win halted a nine-game losing streak against the Kings, marking their first victory over Los Angeles since November 9, 2019.
Game Recap
After a unhurried start that saw the Kings dominate the first period with a 16-1 shot advantage, the Canadiens battled back. Jake Evans opened the scoring for Montreal in the second period, tying the game 1-1. Juraj Slafkovsky then gave the Canadiens the lead at 15:41 of the second period, scoring his first goal since January and reaching his 50th point of the season – a Canadiens first for a player before turning 22.
The Kings responded with a goal from Scott Laughton, tying the game 2-2. Alex Laferriere put Los Angeles ahead early in the third period, but the Canadiens refused to concede.
Slafkovsky tied the game at 14:38 on a power play, scoring his second goal of the night. Just 49 seconds later, Nick Suzuki scored the game-winning goal, capitalizing on a turnover created by Cole Caufield. Jakub Dobes secured the win with 35 saves, including a crucial stop against Adrian Kempe in the final moments of the game.
Key Performances
- Juraj Slafkovsky: Two goals and one assist, finishing the night with three points.
- Nick Suzuki: The game-winning goal and two assists, also recording three points.
- Jakub Dobes: 35 saves, providing a solid performance in net for the Canadiens.
Kings’ Perspective
Anze Kopitar, Scott Laughton, and Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings, who have now lost seven of their last nine games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 shots in the loss. Captain Anze Kopitar ended a 21-game goal drought with his opening goal.
Looking Ahead
The Montreal Canadiens will return to the Bell Centre on Tuesday to face the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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