Kings Dominate Canadiens with Three Quick Goals in Second Period
Hey everyone, let me walk you through last night’s NHL action at the Bell Centre, where the Los Angeles Kings absolutely surged past the Montreal Canadiens with a 5-1 victory. It was one of those games where momentum shifted so quickly, you almost couldn’t catch your breath.
The Canadiens actually drew first blood in the opening period. Josh Anderson fired a blistering one-timer past Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper at 19:17, giving Montreal a 1-0 lead. It was a beautiful shot from the left face-off dot, assisted by Lane Hutson. For a moment, it looked like Montreal might carry that energy forward. But, as Kings coach Jim Hiller mentioned, the team simply focused on staying composed and playing their game, without overreacting to the early setback.
And that approach paid off immediately in the second period. Joel Edmundson tied it 1-1 just over a minute in with a thunderous one-timer, clocked at 96.75 mph—the hardest goal recorded in the NHL this season. That shot alone set the tone, and the Kings didn’t stop there. Quinton Byfield followed it up during a delayed penalty, scoring on a rebound from Adrian Kempe to make it 2-1. Kevin Fiala then finished off a fortunate bounce off Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault’s stick, pushing the score to 3-1 within a mere 4:05 span. That sequence basically decided the game.
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The Canadiens struggled to regain their footing after that. They were kept mostly to the outside, and their speed—the hallmark of their play—was neutralized by the Kings’ heavier style. Montembeault had an up-and-down night, making some early saves but ultimately being beaten on several routine shots, highlighting ongoing issues this season. Noah Dobson noted that turnovers and missed opportunities really hurt Montreal, especially in the third period.
Los Angeles added two more goals in the final frame. Joel Armia scored unassisted, and Warren Foegele capped the night with an empty-net goal to seal the 5-1 win. Darcy Kuemper was solid in net for the Kings, stopping 21 shots, and LA extended their road winning streak to four games, now sitting at 7-1-2 away from home. Byfield reflected on their road success, saying the team’s momentum on the road is just one of those things that sometimes clicks naturally.
On the Canadiens’ side, this loss ended their six-game point streak. Despite the defeat, there’s some promising development, particularly from their second line. Players like Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demidov, and Kirby Dach have been putting up solid numbers, showing that Montreal has some building blocks for the rest of the season.
In short, the Kings’ high-pressure, heavy-game approach completely overwhelmed Montreal. That second-period blitz of three quick goals was the highlight of the night, and it reminded everyone that momentum in hockey can swing in mere minutes. The Canadiens will need to regroup quickly, as they face another heavy-hitting team, the Dallas Stars, in their next matchup.
It was a night where the Kings’ firepower and composure on the road were fully on display, and Montreal learned the hard way how quickly a game can turn.
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