The Kings score three goals in less than five minutes in a wild first period and dominate most of the meaningful possession statistics for the night, but Winnipeg rallies to hand them a 6-4 defeat.
The Kings’ Gabe Vilardi celebrates his go-ahead goal with his teammates during the first period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, jams Winnipeg Jets right wing Saku Maenalanen into the boards during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. Winnipeg Jets center Mason Appleton, left, reaches for the puck while Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson watches during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Kings center Blake Lizotte, center, and Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry, right, face off as a linesman drops the puck during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick complains about a call to a referee during the third period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Centers Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Winnipeg, as did defenseman Nate Schmidt before winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored the game-winner and Blake Wheeler added an empty-net goal. Morgan Barron had two assists and Lowry added one. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 40 shots as the Jets won consecutive games for the first time this season.
Winnipeg sealed the Kings’ fate late, first by drawing a penalty and then when Wheeler lofted the puck into the vacated cage for an insurance goal. In the second period, the Kings had earned several sterling opportunities, including wingers Fiala and Adrian Kempe nearly connecting for a goal off the hop, as they continued to carry play.
They scored soon after their third power play. Fiala turned in a dangerous shift. He had a strong scoring chance with 5:39 to play and then created a goal 12 seconds later when his shot from the slot hit Schmidt’s stick before being redirected again by Vilardi for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.