On February 24, 2025, The Kings staged a remarkable comeback against the Vegas Golden Knights, securing a 5-2 victory. This win marked a significant moment for The Kings, who have been on a strong run, now standing at 5-0-1 in their last six games. The game was highlighted by Quinton Byfield’s career-high four assists, showing his growing influence on the team.
Early Momentum and Golden Knights’ Lead
The Kings started strong, with Trevor Moore opening the scoring in the first period. Moore deflected a shot from Quinton Byfield for a power-play goal, giving Los Angeles an early 1-0 lead. However, the Golden Knights fought back in the second period. Brayden McNabb tied the game with a wrist shot through traffic, and Mark Stone gave Vegas the lead by deflecting a point shot from Noah Hanifin past Darcy Kuemper. This put the Golden Knights ahead 2-1 heading into the third period.
The Kings’ Third-Period Surge
The third period was a different story altogether. The Kings came out with renewed energy, scoring four unanswered goals to turn the game around. Trevor Moore tied the game just 42 seconds into the period with a wrist shot that hit the crossbar and went in. This momentum shift was crucial, as it opened up opportunities for the Kings to take control.
Warren Foegele then gave the Kings the lead at 8:31 with a backhand goal, assisted by Byfield. Foegele’s goal was a result of a well-executed play where Byfield sent a backdoor pass, allowing Foegele to cut across the crease and lift the puck over a sprawling Ilya Samsonov.
The Kings continued to press, with Joel Edmundson scoring from the left point at 15:28 to make it 4-2. Finally, Kevin Fiala sealed the victory with a backhand from the edge of the left circle at 17:41, making the final score 5-2.
Key Performances and Takeaways
- Quinton Byfield was instrumental with four assists, marking a career high. His performance underscored his growing role as a playmaker for the Kings.
- Trevor Moore scored twice, including the equalizing goal in the third period. His recent form has been impressive, with four of his ten goals coming in the last four games.
- Warren Foegele not only scored the go-ahead goal but also had an assist, contributing significantly to The Kings’ victory.
- Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves and even recorded an assist, his first since November 2023.
The Golden Knights, who had been on a three-game winning streak, saw their momentum halted. Despite leading the Pacific Division, they have struggled against the Kings this season, losing two of three meetings. The loss highlighted issues with clearing the puck from their defensive zone, which led to several Kings goals.
