Kings’ 15-game home points streak ends in loss to Maple Leafs
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John Tavares scored twice and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Kings 3-1 on Saturday.
Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist, Anthony Stolarz made 35 saves, and the Maple Leafs are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
Alex Laferriere scored, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves, and the Kings had their franchise-record 15-game home point streak stopped. It was their first regulation loss at home since falling 5-1 to Pittsburgh on Jan. 20.
Laferriere ended a 17-game goal drought dating back to Feb. 22 when he opened the scoring.
Mikko Rantanen scored twice in the third period to complete his ninth career hat trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings.
Laferriere put the Kings ahead early in the second period, but Matthews tied it up 1-1 early in the third with his second career shorthanded goal.
Tavares then put Toronto in front by putting in Matthews’ rebound during a four-on-three power play with less than eight minutes remaining. Kuemper got a little too active with his stick, tripping Matthews during four-on-four play to set the stage for Tavares’ 12th power-play goal of the season.
Tavares picked up an empty-netter with 1:35 remaining. He has scored in five straight games — with eight goals in that span — and leads the NHL with 13 goals since the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The win put the Maple Leafs atop the three-team race for the Atlantic Division for now, moving them one point ahead of Florida and Tampa Bay. The Panthers do have a game in hand over the other two challengers.
Toronto, which came into the game with the third-best road power play in the NHL, went one for four to turn the game in its favor.
