Kings Score Early, Then Hang on to Beat Senators 3–2

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (18) races against Los Angeles Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom (91) for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Nov. 2, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Phillip Danault, Carl Grundstrom and Anze Kopitar scored for the visiting Los Angeles Kings, who held on for a 3–2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Nov. 2.

The Kings have a perfect 5–0–0 record in road games this season and are 4–0–1 in their last five games overall.

Adrian Kempe had two assists to help Los Angeles build a 3–0 lead that lasted until almost the end of the second period.

Los Angeles Kings centre Anze Kopitar (11) gives goaltender Cam Talbot (39) a pat on the head after the team's win over the Ottawa Senators in an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Nov. 2, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

However, Dominik Kubalik’s power-play tally put Ottawa on the board 21 seconds before the second intermission. At 4:09 of the third period, Josh Norris’ tip-in effort brought the Senators within a goal and increased the late-game pressure.

Kings goalie Cam Talbot stopped 24 of 26 shots to earn his fifth win of the season.

Kempe has eight points (two goals, six assists) over the course of a five-game points streak.

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The Senators are 1–4–0 in their last five games.

Beyond the defeat, Ottawa also lost Ridly Greig and Mark Kastelic to apparent lower-body injuries. An awkward body-check attempt on Kempe early in the first period left Greig with a right leg injury, forcing the rookie off the ice.

Early in the second period, Kastelic was also favoring his right leg after slipping and crashing into the boards.

Los Angeles got a quick start on Danault’s power-play goal 3:11 into the first period. Danault’s first shot was stopped, but the forward deposited his own rebound for his third goal of the season.

At the 5:00 mark of the second frame, a Senators turnover led to a 3-on-2 rush for the Kings. Grundstrom finished off the play with a perfectly-placed wrist shot under the crossbar.

Kopitar extended the lead less than four minutes later. Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic blocked Jordan Spence’s initial shot, and Kopitar was in position to convert the rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

Senators goalie Joonas Korpisalo stopped 35 of 38 shots, delivering a strong performance to keep Ottawa in the game.

Thursday marked Ottawa’s first game under interim general manager Steve Staios, after former GM Pierre Dorion was fired on Wednesday.