Post by : Maya Rahman

In a thrilling match at Crypto Arena, the Los Angeles Kings edged out the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Monday, achieving a clean sweep in their season encounters. The game remained tight until the final quarter, with all goals occurring in the last 14 minutes. This victory marked only the Kings' second win at home in nine attempts this season.

In their first matchup on November 15, the Kings had narrowly won 1-0 in Ottawa, a game characterized by a lack of action and just 35 combined shots. Monday's contest mirrored that for the initial 38 minutes, highlighted by a tribute to former Kings defenseman Jordan Spence, who had transitioned to the Senators during the summer.

Brandt Clarke delivered the game-winning goal for the Kings, further solidifying his impact on the night. “It's not always glamorous, but when we play a complete 60 minutes, we’re really tough to beat,” Clarke commented. His goal, a power-play shot that ricocheted off Ottawa's Artem Zub with 6:10 left, marked his first point in 12 games and his third of the season.

Warren Foegele contributed another goal for the Kings, while Joel Edmundson provided assists for two of his team's scores. Veteran goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves, securing the win. His performance drew praise from teammates, with Clarke even jesting that Team Canada should consider him for the upcoming Winter Olympics.

For the Senators, the solitary goal was netted by Fabian Zetterlund, and goaltender Leevi Meriläinen recorded 20 saves despite the absence of key players like captain Brady Tkachuk and alternate captain Thomas Chabot, both sidelined with upper-body injuries. The Senators attempted a late-game surge by pulling their goalie, with Quinton Byfield nearly scoring from the opposite end, hitting the post.

The Kings' penalty kill was especially effective, thwarting all three Ottawa power plays. Foegele’s goal was significant after a sluggish start to his season, which featured only three goals and three points leading into this match. Coach Jim Hiller praised both Foegele and Phil Danault for their notable contributions, particularly Danault’s crucial faceoff wins in the closing moments.

Earlier in the second period, Ottawa narrowly missed the net, with Dylan Cozens’ shot being blocked by Kuemper, followed by Drake Batherson's follow-up attempt striking the post. The Kings also had opportunities but faced their own misfortune with Byfield’s shot hitting the post.

Foegele's goal concluded the scoring for Los Angeles, assisted by Joel Armia and Joel Edmundson, sealing the 2-1 victory and granting the Kings their first win in four games. Armia's assist extended his point streak to three, adding to the team's growing confidence and momentum.

Demonstrating resilience and patience, the Kings broke through in the final moments to secure the win. Their defensive strength, timely scoring, and Kuemper’s superb goaltending were pivotal in overcoming a determined but depleted Senators team.

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