LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings allowed four unanswered goals in the third period and were stunned by the Ottawa Senators 5-3 at Staples Center on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Kings got off to a great start when Jeff Carter scored his 13th goal of the seasn, and 100th as a King to give Los Angeles an early 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
One of the Kings newest additions, veteran center, Vincent Lecavalier scored his first goal in a Kings uniform when the found the back of the net on a power play early in the second period.
Alex Chiasson finally got the Seantors on the board late in the second period and the Kings lead 2-1 entering into the final act.
The Kings leading goal scorer, Tyler Toffoli, netted his 21st of the season in the opening minutes of the third period and Los Angeles had a commanding 3-1 lead.
Less than five minutes later, the wheels fell off as Senators scored two goals in 0:26 seconds to tie the game at 3-3.
Kings center Nick Shore was called for a four-minute double minor penalty for high sticking two minutes later and Ottawa went on the power-play looking for the go-ahead goal.
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Mike Zibanejad completed the comeback when he scored on the power-play at the 6:50 mark and Mark Borowiecki added an empty-net goal to stun the Kings in their own building.
TURNING POINT
With a two goal lead, the Kings allowed two goals in 26 seconds to Bobby Ryan and Jean-Gabriel Pageau earlier in the third period and were never able to recover.
MVP OF THE GAME
Mike Zibanejad. The Swedish skater had the game-winning goal and an assist to shock the Pacific Division-leading LA Kins.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Jake Muzzin assisted on Jeff Carter's goal, the first of the game. The pass extended his career-long point streak to six games. It is the longest streak by a Kings defenseman since Jack Johnson on in December, 2010.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Lecaval-YAY! pic.twitter.com/vzQj3iP5k5 — LA Kings (@LAKings) January 16, 2016
Well done.
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Locked up. pic.twitter.com/SgW07suz2j — LA Kings (@LAKings) January 16, 2016
Eight years is a long time…
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We had lots of guys playing shinny out there." LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter on the team's performance in the third period.
NOTES
Jeff Carter scored his 100th goal as a member of the Kings…Jake Muzzin extended his point streak to six-games…Toffoli leads the team in goals with 21…Vincent Lecavalier scored his first goal as a member of the Kings…The Kings sold out Staples Center for the 183rd consecutive game.
RECORD
Ottawa Senators (21-18-6, 48 points) 6th in the Atlantic Division.
Los Angeles Kings (27-13-3, 57 points) 1st in the Pacific Division.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Ottawa's California trip continues when they head to the Shark Tank to face-off with San Jose at 7:30PM on Monday.
The Kings travel up the 5 freeway to dance with the cross-town rivals, the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow night at 6:00 PM PST.
