The first goal of the game belonged to the Kings, which illustrates the multiple shortcomings of the CH in recent games, a turnover in the offensive zone, and very average defensive coverage leading to Anze Kopitar's 7th goal of the season, assisted by Kempe and Panarin, who records his 6th point in a row in his 6th game with his new team.
So you won't believe me, but the Canadiens finished the first 20 with only one shot on goal, which was a backhand shot by Cole Caufield to the right of Kuemper that managed to give the Canadian goalie a bit of a challenge. Discipline also failed the CH with 3 penalties in the first period; however, no goals from the Kings. The only positive point in the first was Dobes, who kept the bleu-blanc-rouge in the game.
At the start of the 2nd period, the Canadiens finally started shooting a bit more, and it was Jake Evans, left alone, who shot from the blue line assisted by Kirby Dach and Bolduc to create the equalizer, there was traffic in front of the net and simplicity on this play. It was the 3rd line that scored the tying goal.
The Canadiens really showed us much more exciting hockey during the second period, it was the 1st line's turn to score as Juraj Slafkovsky gave his team the lead after maintaining possession up to the top of the crease to unleash a shot that beat Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper. Suzuki and Carrier assisted the big Slaf on this goal, 2 unanswered goals from the Canadiens.
Unfortunately, at the end of the 2nd period, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton, who was acquired at the trade deadline, opened his account with his new team by scoring his 9th of the season on a lucky goal given up by Jakub Dobes. Laughton received a pass from young Jared Wright directly on the goal line to the right of Dobes, Scott shot, and the puck hit the outside of the right pad of #75 before finding its way into the net to make it 2-2. Certainly, Dobes was rather weak on the sequence, but that happens to all goalies; the most important thing is that he forgets this goal as quickly as possible.
At 13:16 in the 3rd period, Alex Laferrière put the Kings back in the lead 3-2, as he managed to take a rebound shot from the blue line, with Clarke and Moore each credited with an assist on the goal. The Canadiens' mission was to get back into the game at that moment, and Dobes needed to be even more solid in front of his net.
On the power play, the CH seized the opportunity to make it 3-3! It was Juraj Slafkovsky who unleashed a powerful one-timer to give the Montreal team the lead.
A few minutes later, the Kings' goalie conceded a 4th time in this match, and Nick Suzuki, assisted by Slafkovsky and Caufield, scored the winning goal of the night with another one-timer to beat Kuemper. After this goal, we were expecting the Olé Olé in the Los Angeles Kings' arena.
It was the first time since November 9, 2019, that the Canadiens won in LA. This game wasn't perfect, I admit, but what we will remember is that the players of head coach Martin Saint-Louis managed to come back in the third period to win by a score of 4-3. The first line had a good game starting in the second period, much like the team itself. Even though Mr. Saturday night, also known as Cole Caufield, did not score a goal tonight, he still earned an assist on the winning goal by captain Nick Suzuki. Speaking of Nick, he and Juraj both collected 3 points during the game!
The Canadiens will play next Tuesday against the Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.