Kings Get Back Into the Win Column With 3-1 Victory Over Kraken

To grab their first win of the road trip, the Los Angeles Kings edged out a sloppy 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken.

A polar opposite to the back-and-forth 8-7 shootout the last time these two teams met. Saturday's game was a low-event game with few chances.

The first goal came halfway through the second period on a broken play. After blowing a tire behind the Kraken net, Sean Durzi deposited an Alex Iafallo whiff past Martin Jones.

The Kings then double their lead on a great solo effort from Carl Grundstrom. Grundstrom stripped Brandon Tanev just inside the Kraken zone on the backcheck, Grundstrom sniped Jones bardown on a two-on-one.

The Kraken had the majority of the chances in the third, but Pheonix Copley stood tall in net. 

His best save came on the breakaway, denying Eeli Tolvanen on a breakaway.

The Kraken did breakthrough eight minutes on the power play. A Daniel Sprong one-timer was trickling behind Copley and Vladislav Gavrikov made a desperate attempt to clear the puck. That clearance went straight to the stick of Oliver Bjorkstrand though, who fired into an empty net.

The Kings were able to hold on off the back of some more good play from Copley. And Kevin Fiala buried the empty netter in his return to the lineup with 45 seconds left to put the Kings up two.

That empty netter would be enough as the Kings secured their first win of the season against Seattle. 

The Kings also move within one point of clinching a playoff spot heading into Sunday's matchup with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Kings' offense still isn't fully clicking right now, but they found a way to win anyway. 

They can't rely on stellar performances in net every night, but sometimes you need a little help from your goalies.

One of the common "criticisms" of Copley this season has been his inability to win the Kings games. It felt like he was simply not losing them games before, but Saturday was different.

Copley came up with a few timely saves and won the Kings that game. 

The Kings need to re-discover their offense soon, but in the meantime, there stellar defensive record will help them finish the road trip strong.