LOS ANGELES — What appeared to be a comfortable victory for the Los Angeles Kings nearly turned into one of their most disappointing losses of the season Thursday night.
Quinton Byfield scored 3:37 into overtime to lift the Kings to a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Crypto.com Arena, rescuing Los Angeles after it surrendered a four-goal lead during a disastrous third period.
The Kings carried a commanding 5-1 advantage into the final 20 minutes before Ottawa scored four unanswered goals, including the tying goal with just 1:40 remaining in regulation.
Despite the collapse, Byfield delivered when Los Angeles needed him most, beating goaltender Samuel Ersson with a snap shot from the high slot to secure the additional point and send the home crowd into celebration. (AP)
Kings Build Commanding Lead Behind Dominant Second Period
Ottawa opened the scoring in the first period when defenseman Tyler Kleven found the back of the net, giving the Senators an early advantage.
Los Angeles responded on the power play, with Erik Haula scoring to even the contest at 1-1 heading into the second period.
From there, the Kings appeared to take complete control.
Los Angeles erupted for four unanswered goals in the middle frame, receiving contributions from Trevor Moore, Mikey Anderson, Joel Armia and Artemi Panarin.
The offensive outburst showcased the Kings’ scoring depth, with multiple lines contributing to what appeared to be a decisive performance.
Panarin capped the second-period scoring with a power-play goal after Ottawa forward Hayden Hodgson received a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Clarke suffered an upper-body injury on the play and did not return.
By the end of the second period, Los Angeles held a 5-1 advantage and appeared firmly positioned to secure a convincing home victory.
However, the Senators had other plans. (AP)
Ottawa Erases Four-Goal Deficit in Remarkable Third-Period Comeback
Trailing by four goals entering the final period, Ottawa produced an extraordinary offensive rally that completely changed the direction of the game.
Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens scored just 33 seconds apart, rapidly cutting into the Kings’ advantage and giving the Senators renewed momentum.
Cozens added another goal with 7:26 remaining in regulation, bringing Ottawa within one and placing enormous pressure on a Los Angeles team that had controlled the previous two periods.
The Kings struggled to regain their defensive structure as Ottawa continued pressing for the equalizer.
With Ersson pulled for an extra attacker in the closing minutes, Shane Pinto completed the comeback, scoring with 1:40 remaining to tie the game at 5-5.
In a matter of minutes, Los Angeles had watched a four-goal lead disappear.
What once seemed like a routine victory had become an overtime contest, with the Kings suddenly facing the possibility of leaving the game with only one point.
For Ottawa, the comeback represented an impressive display of resilience after an otherwise difficult opening 40 minutes.
For Los Angeles, it exposed significant concerns about protecting leads and maintaining defensive consistency throughout an entire game. (AP)
Byfield Delivers the Decisive Goal in Overtime
With both teams entering overtime following a chaotic third period, Los Angeles needed someone to reverse the momentum.
Byfield provided exactly that.
At the 3:37 mark of the extra period, the 24-year-old forward found space in the high slot and fired a snap shot past Ersson to end the contest.
Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty recorded his third assist of the evening on the game-winning play, completing an important offensive performance of his own.
The goal prevented what would have been a particularly frustrating defeat for a Kings team that had dominated large portions of the contest.
It also provided another example of Byfield’s importance to Los Angeles as the organization continues relying on its younger offensive talent.
Selected second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Byfield has developed into an increasingly important piece of the Kings’ long-term plans.
His combination of size, skating ability and offensive instincts makes him one of the team’s most valuable young forwards.
Thursday’s winner demonstrated his ability to deliver in critical situations, particularly after the Kings had lost nearly all of their momentum during regulation.
Although the victory will count the same in the standings, Byfield’s overtime heroics prevented a far more concerning result. (AP)
Goaltending Changes and Defensive Struggles Shape the Contest
The game also featured significant challenges for both teams between the pipes.
Ottawa starting goaltender Jonas Johansson allowed four goals on 16 shots before being replaced by Ersson during the second period.
Ersson helped stabilize the Senators, stopping 20 of the 22 shots he faced and giving Ottawa an opportunity to mount its third-period comeback.
At the opposite end, Darcy Kuemper finished with 17 saves for Los Angeles.
While Kuemper ultimately earned the victory, the Kings’ inability to protect their substantial lead raised questions about the team’s defensive performance.
Los Angeles entered the third period with complete control of the scoreboard but allowed Ottawa to dictate the pace and generate several critical scoring opportunities.
The injury to Clarke further complicated matters, leaving the Kings without one of their important young defensemen for the remainder of the contest.
Although Los Angeles escaped with the victory, the third-period breakdown will likely remain a significant point of emphasis moving forward. (AP)
Kings Continue Their Familiar Relationship With Overtime
For Los Angeles, another game extending beyond regulation is hardly unfamiliar territory.
The Kings established an NHL record during the 2025-26 season by playing 33 games that required overtime or a shootout, highlighting how frequently their contests remained undecided after 60 minutes.
Byfield has also developed a history of delivering in those situations.
During the previous season, he scored an overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 4, 2026, finishing a 7-6 victory in another high-scoring contest.
That goal was his second of the evening and his 20th of the season, helping Los Angeles secure an important victory during its playoff pursuit.
His latest overtime winner against Ottawa adds another memorable moment to his growing collection of clutch performances.
However, Thursday’s contest also demonstrated why the Kings must become more effective at finishing games in regulation.
While overtime victories provide valuable points, repeatedly surrendering leads and allowing opponents back into games can become a dangerous habit over the course of an 82-game season. (NHL)
Looking Ahead
Los Angeles will return to action Saturday when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres, while Ottawa continues its road trip with a matchup against the San Jose Sharks.
For the Kings, the victory provides an important result but also several areas requiring immediate attention.
Their offensive production was encouraging, particularly with six different players finding the back of the net.
Doughty’s three-assist performance and Byfield’s overtime winner further demonstrated the contributions Los Angeles can receive from both its veteran leaders and younger players.
However, surrendering four consecutive goals in the third period is not something the Kings can afford to repeat consistently.
For Ottawa, the loss will be disappointing considering the magnitude of its comeback, but earning a point after trailing 5-1 provides something positive to build upon.
Ultimately, Thursday’s game will be remembered for two dramatically different stories.
The Senators nearly completed an extraordinary comeback after appearing completely out of contention.
But when the game reached its decisive moment, Byfield ensured the Kings would not leave empty-handed.
Los Angeles survived a collapse, secured two points and escaped with a victory that was considerably more difficult than it ever needed to be.
