Byfield scores in overtime as Kings survive Senators' four-goal comeback
Quinton Byfield scored 3:37 into overtime after Ottawa erased a four-goal deficit in the third period.
LOS ANGELES · Quinton Byfield scored at 3:37 of overtime as the Los Angeles Kings escaped with a 6-5 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night after squandering a four-goal lead in the third period. Byfield beat goaltender Samuel Ersson with a snap shot from the high slot, with defenceman Drew Doughty earning his third assist of the night on the decisive play. The Kings built a 5-1 lead through two periods before the Senators erupted for four unanswered goals in the final frame to force overtime. Shane Pinto tied the game for Ottawa with 1:40 left in regulation with Ersson pulled for an extra attacker.
Dylan Cozens led the Senators' furious rally with two goals in the third period, while Drake Batherson also scored. Cozens and Batherson struck just 33 seconds apart early in the period, and Cozens made it a 5-4 game with 7:26 remaining to set the stage for Pinto's late equalizer. Tyler Kleven had opened the scoring for Ottawa in the first period. The Kings responded with a dominant second period, scoring four times in less than nine minutes.
Erik Haula tied the game on a first-period power play before Trevor Moore, Mikey Anderson, Joel Armia and Artemi Panarin scored in succession in the second to build the 5-1 advantage. Panarin's goal came on a power play after Ottawa's Hayden Hodgson was ejected for boarding Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke. Clarke did not return to the game due to an upper-body injury. Doughty led all skaters with three assists, while Panarin and Haula each finished with a goal. For the Senators, Cozens paced the attack with two goals and three points, Batherson added a goal and two assists, and Tim Stutzle recorded three assists. The Kings outshot the Senators 38-22 and converted two of seven power-play opportunities, while Ottawa went one for four with the man advantage.
In goal, Jonas Johansson started for Ottawa but was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots through the first two periods. Ersson made 20 saves on 22 shots in relief. The win improves Los Angeles to 4-6-2 on the season, while the overtime loss drops Ottawa to 8-5-1. The Kings also took a 1-0 lead in the season series between the two clubs.
With files from The Globe and Mail, Yahoo Sports and Bozeman Daily Chronicle