The Kings point streak moved to eight games on Thursday night with the defeat of the Columbus Blue Jackets on home ice. Now 7-0-1 in their last eight games and 8-0-1 in their last nine home games, the win brings the Kings within one point of the division leading Vegas Golden Knights with just 13 games remaining in the regular season.
Despite multiple grade-A scoring chances and 15 shots on goal for the Kings in the first period, the game was tied at zeroes after 20 minutes of play. But thanks to their second straight four-goal second period, the Kings ran away with the lead against the Blue Jackets. It first began with Drew Doughty scoring fifth goal of the season as the elite defenseman followed up his own rebound, batting in the game's first goal. The Kings then doubled the lead when Anze Kopitar scored his 26th goal of the year off of a beautiful set up by Quinton Byfield. With the assist, the Kings have now won their last 12 games when Byfield records a point. Extending the Kings lead even further in the second period were a pair of goals just 1:12 apart to again double the Kings lead. With 7:24 remaining in period, Viktor Arvidsson one-timed home a Trevor Moore for his 19th goal of the season, followed by Carl Grundstrom finding the back of the net on an impressive individual play for his eighth goal of the season.
Pheonix Copley took a shutout into the third but allowed a goal in the final 20 minutes one of there 30 shots faced. Copley moves to 21-4-3 on the year.
3/16 FINAL - Kings 4, Blue Jackets 1
Kings use 4-goal 2nd period to defeat Blue Jackets
