Kempe's Third-Period Goal Propels Kings Over Lightning for 9th Straight Home Victory
In a tightly contested matchup, the Los Angeles Kings edged the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, securing their ninth consecutive home win. This victory came at Crypto.com Arena on January 5, 2025, and marked their fourth straight win overall. Adrian Kempe's decisive goal in the third period lifted the Kings to another crucial victory, further solidifying their dominance on home ice.
The game saw both teams trading blows early on. Victor Hedman opened the scoring for Tampa Bay in the first minute of the game, when his shot from the point deflected off Mikey Anderson’s stick to beat Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper. But Los Angeles responded strongly. Anderson, who had been part of the early misfortune, evened the score at 7:58 with a slap shot that came off a face-off win by Phillip Danault. The teams remained locked at 1-1 as the game progressed.
The decisive moment came at 14:12 in the third period. With the game still tied, Alex Turcotte seized an opportunity when Lightning defender Nick Perbix mishandled a pass and fell. Turcotte capitalized on the turnover, racing up the ice on a 1-on-2 rush. As he entered the zone, he found Kempe trailing behind, who unleashed a wrist shot from the slot to beat Tampa Bay’s goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for the game-winning goal.
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The Kings' defense, spearheaded by Kuemper’s 34 saves, shut down the Lightning for the remainder of the game, not allowing any further scoring. The Lightning’s struggles continued, as they’ve now lost three straight, marking their second three-game losing streak of the season.
Los Angeles' fourth consecutive win on home ice was a testament to their strong team play and defensive resilience. Despite being outshot 35-21, the Kings were able to capitalize on their opportunities and maintain their momentum through the latter half of the game. Kuemper’s performance, in particular, was a standout as he kept the Lightning at bay, especially in the final period.
The win also marked a special milestone for veteran forward Trevor Lewis, who made his return to the lineup after a 12-game absence due to injury. He also played his 1,000th career NHL game, a milestone that reflects his long and dedicated career in the league.
For Tampa Bay, Victor Hedman’s early goal was the highlight, but the team’s offense couldn’t find a way to break through Los Angeles’ defense after that. The Lightning's loss was compounded by the lack of offensive output, as they’ve now only managed to score four goals over their past three games.
As for the Kings, they will now take three days off before hosting the Calgary Flames. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay will look to bounce back against the Anaheim Ducks in their next game. The Kings continue to ride a wave of success at home, with their defense and special teams proving key in this victory. With a lineup that includes players like Kempe and Turcotte, they remain a team to watch in the coming weeks.
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