The Los Angeles Kings came into Buffalo looking to kick off their six-game road trip on the right foot. Instead, they skated off the ice with a frustrating 4-1 loss that left more questions than answers-particularly after a night where they outshot the Sabres 38-32, outhit them 30-9, and still couldn’t find a way to claw back into the game.
This one came down to a combination of bad bounces, a controversial call, and a red-hot performance from Sabres forward Alex Tuch and goaltender Alex Lyon. For the Kings, it was another case of a slow start putting them in a hole they couldn’t dig out of-something that’s starting to become a concerning trend.
First Period: Kings Set the Tempo, But Sabres Strike First
Despite controlling much of the pace early and getting pucks on net, the Kings found themselves trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes. The first goal was one of those fluky plays that can shift momentum early. Ryan McLeod’s pass, intended for Tuch, deflected off a Kings defender and slipped past Darcy Kuemper-an unfortunate bounce that gave Buffalo the early edge.
The second goal stung even more. Following a faceoff win, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson stepped into a shot from the point and beat Kuemper clean on the glove side. Just like that, the Kings were in a two-goal hole, despite leading in shots and generating decent offensive zone time.
Lyon was sharp throughout the opening frame, turning aside several high-quality chances from Los Angeles. The Kings were getting looks, but Buffalo’s netminder was locked in.
Second Period: A Game-Changing Call
The second period could’ve been the turning point. Early on, it looked like Alex Laferriere had finally broken through, poking the puck past Lyon to cut the deficit to 2-1. But after an extended video review, the goal was taken off the board due to goalie interference-Corey Perry was ruled to have made contact with Lyon before the puck crossed the line.
It was a borderline call, one that could’ve gone either way. Lyon appeared to have time to reset, but the officials saw enough to overturn the goal. Instead of a 2-1 game with momentum swinging LA’s way, the score remained 2-0-and the Sabres took full advantage.
Just minutes later, Tuch made the Kings pay. He found space in the slot and buried a shot off a point feed, extending Buffalo’s lead to 3-0. That sequence-an overturned goal followed by a quick strike the other way-was the gut punch that shifted the game’s trajectory.
To their credit, the Kings didn’t fold. They finally broke through late in the second on the power play, with Kevin Fiala feeding Adrian Kempe for a high deflection that beat Lyon. It was a much-needed spark that cut the lead to 3-1 heading into the third, but the damage had largely been done.
Third Period: Missed Opportunities and a Hat Trick Dagger
Down two in the third, the Kings needed a big push-and while they kept firing, they couldn’t solve Lyon again. The Sabres tightened up defensively, clogging lanes and forcing LA to the outside. Lyon continued to stand tall, and the Kings couldn’t generate that one play to swing momentum back their way.
Tuch sealed it with an empty-netter, completing the hat trick and putting a bow on a dominant performance. He was a force all night, capitalizing on mistakes and finishing with a three-goal effort that torched the Kings’ defense.
Despite the lopsided final score, the Kings did a lot of things right. They led in shots, hits, and had stretches where they controlled possession.
But 20 giveaways-many of them in dangerous areas-proved costly. Buffalo didn’t need a ton of chances to do damage, and they made LA pay for nearly every mistake.
Looking Ahead
This loss stings not just because of the scoreline, but because of the way it unfolded. The overturned goal looms large-it could’ve changed the entire complexion of the game. Instead, the Kings were chasing it all night.
Now, they’ll have to regroup quickly. This was just the first stop on a six-game road trip, and they’ll get a chance to bounce back Saturday night in Philadelphia. The effort was there in stretches, but the Kings will need to clean up the details-especially early in games-if they want to avoid digging more holes on this road swing.