Kings Blow Lead, Lose to Hurricanes in OT

In a game that felt like a microcosm of the Los Angeles Kings' system, they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in overtime.

Period One:

Carolina was all over the Kings in the first. They played their usual, high-tempo game that kills teams in transition and forces turnovers.

They got several chances and were eventually able to break through with a Brent Burns goal following a Jaret Anderson-Dolan turnover.

It was very much a Hurricanes goal. Holding the offensive blue line and quickly turning defense into attack to create a goal-scoring chance. Ending with Burns, who's terrorized the Kings for over a decade now.

The Kings were able to get out of the first period down by just one but were clearly second best.

Second Period:

The Kings started the second period hot. Anze Kopitar created a chance for himself out of the corner, drawing a penalty after beating Frederik Andersen with a move. Kopitar stuck with the play though, turning and finding Adrian Kempe back door for an easy tap-in to tie the game at one.

The period then settled into a back-and-forth battle between the two teams that would be broken with just over eight minutes remaining in the period. Brady Skjei jumped up into the play and turned the puck over to Blake Lizotte, who quickly turned the puck up ice and found Kevin Fiala. Fiala and Lizotte then went down the ice on a two-on-one that ended with Fiala toe-dragging the defensemen and sniping Andersen. Giving Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.

Just three minutes later the Kings struck again. This time, Drew Doughty's stretch passed just missed Kempe. But it rebounded off the end boards straight to the slot, where Kempe was able to one-time the puck past Andersen for his second of the night. 

The Kings capped off an explosive period with a power-play goal, one of the nicest they've scored all season. Doughty fed the puck down low to Anderson-Dolan, who one-touched it to the slot for Kopitar to hammer home.

The Kings stunned the Hurricanes and had all the momentum heading into the third.

Third Period:

Like the Kings in the second, Carolina came out with a big push in the third. They were able to start their comeback 3:27 in, as Paul Stastny banged home a big rebound off a Derek Stepan shot.

With just over 10 minutes left, Brett Pesce took a point shot through multiple layers of traffic that Jordan Staal was able to tip home, bringing Carolina within one. 

Just a few minutes later, the Hurricanes got a huge opportunity after a Quinton Byfield delay of game penalty. An opportunity that Teuvo Teraveinen took full advantage of, as his one-timer beat Pheonix Copley to complete the comeback.

The rest of the third period was marked by more Carolina dominance, with the Kings' first line sprinkling in a few nice shifts. 

Heading into overtime, it felt like Carolina's game to lose.

Overtime:

Overtime continued the trend of the third period, with Carolina carrying most of the play. Sebastian Aho, in particular, turned up the heat in overtime. He dominated play every time he touched the ice and was a constant threat.

Like in regulation, a penalty gave Carolina their big opportunity. Andrei Svechnikov was able to break behind the Kings' defense, forcing Doughty to take him down in a last-ditch effort.

On the ensuing power play, it was the ever-dangerous Aho that made the Kings play. Aho hammered home a one-timer on the man-advantage, giving the Hurricanes the full two points.