The Los Angeles Kings snapped their four-game skid in gritty fashion Saturday night, edging out the New York Rangers 4-3 at Crypto.com Arena. It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy-especially with Anze Kopitar and Joel Armia sidelined, and starting goalie Darcy Kuemper exiting early-but the Kings dug deep, leaned on their depth, and got a big-time performance from backup netminder Anton Forsberg.
Fast Start, Back-and-Forth First Period
If there was any doubt about the Kings’ urgency, Adrian Kempe erased it just 18 seconds into the game. Off a clean faceoff win, Kempe jumped on the puck and buried it, giving L.A. the kind of jolt they’ve been missing during this recent slump.
The Rangers answered midway through the period, but Kevin Fiala-who was all over the ice-restored the Kings’ lead with a timely goal. That momentum didn’t last long, though. New York came right back to tie it 2-2 before the first intermission, setting up what would be a wild and unpredictable night.
Kuemper Goes Down, Forsberg Steps Up
The biggest moment of the first period didn’t come on the scoreboard-it came in the crease. Late in the period, Darcy Kuemper was involved in a collision with Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski while stopping a breakaway. At first glance, it didn’t look serious, but Kuemper left the ice with just 38 seconds remaining in the period and was later ruled out with an upper-body injury.
Enter Anton Forsberg.
The veteran backup didn’t flinch. Coming in cold, he immediately brought stability to the crease, and that calm presence gave the Kings the breathing room they needed to regroup.
Depth Scoring Delivers in the Second
With Kuemper out and the top of the lineup already thin, the Kings needed contributions from unexpected places-and they got them. Early in the second period, Taylor Ward scored his first goal of the season to give L.A. a 3-2 lead. It was a hard-earned goal, the kind that comes from battling in the dirty areas, and it gave the Kings a much-needed lift.
Later in the frame, Andrei Kuzmenko added some cushion. After Fiala fired a shot on net, Kuzmenko pounced on the rebound and tucked it home on the backhand. It was his 10th goal of the season and his first since January 5-a timely breakthrough for the winger.
That second period belonged to the Kings. They dictated pace, controlled possession, and forced the Rangers to chase the game. Forsberg did his part, turning away quality chances and keeping the Kings in front.
Forsberg Closes the Door
The Rangers didn’t go quietly. J.T.
Miller scored his second of the night in the third period to cut the lead to 4-3, and New York kept the pressure on until the final horn. But Forsberg stood tall.
He finished with 28 saves and earned first-star honors for his efforts, especially in a frantic final stretch where the Rangers pressed hard for the equalizer.
The Kings’ defense tightened up late, blocking shots and clearing rebounds, and when New York won a faceoff in the final seconds, it was Forsberg again-using every inch of his frame-to disrupt the puck and seal the win.
Why This Win Matters
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. The Kings had lost six of their last seven and were trending in the wrong direction.
But on a night when they were missing key players and lost their starting goalie, they found a way to win. That says something about the character in that locker room.
The timing couldn’t be better. The Kings are about to embark on a tough six-game road trip, starting Saturday against the St.
Louis Blues. Kuemper’s status remains uncertain, but if Forsberg can continue to play at this level, Los Angeles will be in solid hands between the pipes.
For a team that’s been searching for answers, this was a night full of them.