The Los Angeles Kings closed out January with a grueling five-game road trip that tested their depth, resilience, and momentum heading into the Olympic break. From a shootout thriller in St. Louis to a dramatic overtime finish in Philadelphia, the Kings showed flashes of the team they believe they can be-battle-tested, opportunistic, and increasingly dangerous.
Kings Open Road Trip with Shootout Win in St. Louis
The trip kicked off on Jan. 24 in St. Louis, and it didn’t take long for the Kings to make their presence felt.
Less than five minutes in, forward Taylor Ward-yes, the son of former King Dixon Ward-snapped home his second goal of the season to give L.A. the early edge. The lead doubled in the second period when veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin found the back of the net for his first goal as a King.
But the Blues weren’t going quietly. Dalibor Dvorsky and Brayden Schenn answered back in quick succession, tying the game at 2-2.
Then Jordan Kyrou buried his 10th of the year to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead.
The Kings responded with poise, as Alex Laferriere netted his 13th of the season to even things up before the second intermission.
The third period delivered a milestone moment: Trevor Moore, returning from injury, scored his sixth goal of the season-and more notably, his 100th career goal-to put the Kings ahead 4-3. But Kyrou struck again late to tie it, sending the game to overtime and eventually a shootout. That’s where Moore, in his first game back, played the hero once more, burying the game-winner to seal a hard-earned 5-4 victory.
Postponement in Columbus
The Kings were scheduled to play in Columbus on Jan. 26, but severe winter weather had other plans. The game was postponed and rescheduled for March 9, giving the team an unexpected break before heading to Detroit.
Defensive Grit and Timely Goals Lift Kings in Detroit
In Detroit on Jan. 27, the Kings leaned on structure and discipline. After a scoreless first period, forward Samuel Helenius broke through in the second with his second goal of the season. The Kings extended their lead early in the third when Andrei Kuzmenko cashed in on the power play with his 11th goal of the year.
The Red Wings got one back late in the third when Alex DeBrincat scored his 28th of the season, with an assist from Patrick Kane. That helper moved Kane into a tie with Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player in NHL history-1,374 in total.
But that would be the only dent Detroit made. Corey Perry sealed the 3-1 win with an empty-netter, and the Kings rolled into Buffalo riding a three-game win streak.
Tuch’s Hat Trick Ends Kings’ Streak in Buffalo
The good vibes hit a snag in Buffalo on Jan. 29.
The Sabres came out firing, and it was Syracuse native Alex Tuch who led the charge. He opened the scoring with a power-play goal, then Mattias Samuelsson followed up to make it 2-0.
Laferriere appeared to have cut the deficit in the second period, but his goal was overturned for goaltender interference.
Tuch added his second of the night shortly after, putting the Sabres up 3-0. Adrian Kempe finally got the Kings on the board with a power-play tally-his 18th of the season, tying him with Kevin Fiala for the team lead at the time-but that was all L.A. could muster. Tuch completed the hat trick with an empty-netter, his fourth career three-goal game, and the Kings’ win streak came to a halt.
OT Drama in Philly Ends with Byfield’s Winner
The Kings bounced back in a big way on Jan. 31 in Philadelphia. Adrian Kempe wasted no time, scoring just over three minutes into the game. Then, still in the first, he struck again for his 20th of the season-regaining the team lead in goals and giving L.A. a 2-0 cushion.
Andrei Kuzmenko looked to add to the lead, but his goal was wiped off the board after a successful Flyers offside challenge. Then, just before the first period ended, Drew Doughty took a cross-checking penalty that gave Philly a power play to start the second. The Flyers capitalized quickly, with Trevor Zegras scoring his 20th of the season just 39 seconds in.
Early in the third, Travis Konecny tied it up at 2-2. Both teams traded chances the rest of the way, but regulation solved nothing.
In overtime, the Flyers nearly ended it on a breakaway that rang off the post. That miss proved costly.
The Kings regained possession, and Quinton Byfield buried the game-winner, silencing the Wells Fargo Center.
The goal was a big one for Doughty, too-his secondary assist gave him 700 career points, the most ever by a Kings defenseman.
The game also marked the return of captain Anze Kopitar, who had missed 11 games due to injury. After the game, Alex Laferriere summed it up perfectly: “It’s great to have him back for his leadership in the locker room and his ability to win faceoffs!”
What’s Next
The Kings wrap up the road trip on Feb. 1 in Raleigh against the Hurricanes. Then it’s back home for a Feb. 4 matchup with the Seattle Kraken before a quick turnaround on Feb. 5 in Vegas against the Golden Knights. With the Olympic break looming, the Kings are looking to keep the momentum rolling and head into the pause on a high note.
Through the ups and downs of this road trip, one thing is clear: this team is starting to find its identity again. And with key veterans returning and young talent stepping up, the Kings might just be heating up at the right time.