FINAL – Kings 1, Bruins 2 (OT) – Byfield, Burroughs, Hiller

The LA Kings picked up a point on the road when they lost 2-1 in overtime to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon.

The first half ended goalless. The Kings' best impression came when they were shorthanded, with forwards Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault leading a 2-on-1 rush that resulted in several chances but no goals. Overall, the Kings outscored the Bruins 9-7 in the first frame despite saving the only two penalties of the quarter.

At the start of the second period, the Kings took the lead on the power play. With the second unit on the ice taking over a longer portion of the offensive zone from the first unit, a series of passes led to the first goal of the game. Quinton Byfield took a pass from defenseman Jordan Spence and split the penalty taker through the slot, finding Danault in the left circle. Danault passed through the slot, past Alex Turcotte, directly to Moore, who scored his first goal of the season for an early 1-0 lead.

When the teams played 4-on-4 late in the second period, Boston equalized through forward Elias Lindholm. Defenseman Jordan Spence turned the puck over in the neutral zone, giving the Bruins a look the other way. Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper parried a slap shot from Brad Marchand for the first time, but Lindholm drove into the net and pushed the rebound past a sprawling Kuemper for his second goal of the season and a tie at the second intermission.

The third period came and went without a goal as the Kings did everything they could to take the game into overtime, including a penalty shootout in the final three minutes of regulation.

In the extra session, Boston scored the game-winning goal when David Pastrnak capitalized on a long assist from the Kings. With the Kings unable to get a clear free kick to put new forces on the ice, the Bruins converted a 2-on-2 sequence, with Pastrnak from the slot for the 2-1 win and the second point achieved.

After today's game, hear from Byfield, defenseman Kyle Burroughs and head coach Jim Hiller.

Quinton Byfield

Kyle Burroughs
About today's game and the point win in Boston
Yes, it was a tough game, there were two good teams that wanted to win. Of course it sucks to lose an extra point, but with all the special teams approaching the end of the game and kind of getting that one out and getting the point, obviously we had chances on both sides to maybe steal the game, but it was a tough one , structured game.

In the third period tonight I'm trying to find a way to take the game into overtime
Nobody wants to paint a Picasso in the third period, we're just trying to play a structured game. It may not be the prettiest, but yeah, that's the name of the game.

A group of defenders trying to improve their game together
I think we're trying to act as a committee. I think that's the biggest thing: we're all trying to play as a unit, not just as a single player. Drew puts in some impressive performances on the ice, whether with the puck or without it, and he's such a big part of our team, but we're just trying to pick up the slack as a group and contribute on a nightly basis.

About tonight's performance on the PK, how he showed aggressiveness in 4-of-4 shooting
I don't think we give them a lot of time, I think that's the biggest thing. Give these guys time and they will be able to make some plays. I think that's the biggest thing and we understood each other very well, applied a lot of pressure and got our approvals when possible. If we need a save Darce is there, he was probably our best player in the first two games.

Jim Hiller
On his general insights from today's game
I think this was a lot closer to the way we played in preseason and this is a lot closer to the way we want to play. We took too many penalties again, the penalty killers did a great job tonight. Against Buffalo we were clean, but tonight there were some hints, some improvements, and I thought we did a great job (on the penalty kill). I thought that was probably the strength of our game.

To Boston's game-winning goal and to the fact that there are no substitutions
Yes, two guys are really tired and that's what gets you into overtime every time. I think we had a chance to play a little better, both with the puck and defensively, it was just a 2-on-2 game and we just didn't get it done, the puck ended up on the wrong guy's stick .

On the team's reaction after the game in Buffalo
We answered. I didn't like the Buffalo game, I don't think any of us liked it either, apart from the result. We answered. A strong team, a strong team and it was nice to see that we got the game back so quickly.

In the third period tonight we go into overtime to get a point
In the end we certainly converted the penalties, we had a chance on our power play, a couple of good chances to maybe finish it off, but it's a tough game in this building. If people understand what it's like to be in the room, go into the crowd and play against a physical Boston team, it will never look like a Picasso. We go to work here and I was really proud of our guys for doing that.

In his group, defenders play roles they may not be used to
I think you have to give a lot of credit to the veterans, they played a lot of minutes. Gavrikov, Edmundson and Mikey, I would say these guys really have something special. We didn't know Eddie other than playing against him, Gaby, we've been here a while, I think he's playing his best hockey and I thought Mikey's game was a lot better tonight.

Notes –
• The Kings and Bruins needed overtime to tie the game for the seventh straight game
• Forward Trevor Moore (0-1=1), the Kings' leading scorer last season, scored his first goal of the season
Campaign. This is Moore's first goal in Boston since March 7, 2022, when he scored the equalizer with 26 seconds left
the third period in an eventual 3-2 overtime win.
• According to NHL PR, Moore has scored the first goal of the game nine times since joining the Kings in the 2019-20 season. Only four
Active skaters from Los Angeles have more during this time: Adrian Kempe (24), Anze Kopitar (20), Phillip Danault (13),
Kevin Fiala (12).
• Forward Quinton Byfield (0-1=1) picked up his second assist of the season, extending his points and assist streak
to a second game (0-2=2) to open the season. It is the first points streak of Byfield's career to begin in the first game of a season and makes him the tenth different skater in franchise history to record a season-opening assist streak before turning 23.
• Forward Philip Danault (0-1=1) recorded his second assist in as many games against the Bruins after assisting defenseman Brandt Clarke for the first NHL goal of his career in overtime at TD Garden on Feb. 17, 2024.
• The Kings successfully killed all five of the Bruins' power play opportunities in this game, marking the second straight game in which the Kings have held their opponents scoreless using the man advantage. It is only the second time in franchise history that the Kings have defeated scoreless opponents on the man advantage while contesting five or more power play opportunities in consecutive games to open the season (January 14, 2021 vs. MIN, 6/6 and January 16, 2021 vs. MIN, 5/5).
• Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves on 25 shots on goal for the Bruins.

The Kings have a team off day tomorrow and return to the ice on Monday against Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific time.