Third Period Comeback Kids

The LA Kings currently find themselves atop the Pacific Division with an 11-2-2 record. Many of those wins have come from dominant 60 minute performances, including two shutouts and three wins by a margin of three goals or more.
However, the Kings have also demonstrated an ability to make third period comebacks and rescue points that might have otherwise slipped away. After 15 games, they rank fourth in the NHL with 20 of their 51 goals coming in the third period.
Here's a look at the late game heroics that have helped to place the Kings in first place in the Pacific Division.

October 11 vs. Calgary Flames

The first glimpse of the reinvigorated Kings came just three games into the season against their most recent antagonist, the Calgary Flames.
Down 2-1 heading into the third, the Kings quickly rebounded to take a 3-2 lead less than two minutes into the period.

The Flames ultimately tied the game, and then won in OT, but the Kings earned a point thanks to a quick start in the final period.

October 14 vs. Buffalo Sabres

The Kings' third period dominance was on display again the very next game after Dustin Brown's second period goal tied the game at 1-1. The Kings scored again early in the third to take the lead, but the Sabres came back with another goal to tie the game. Thankfully, Drew Doughty found the back of the net with a game winning goal with just 2:00 left in regulation.

Tanner Pearson scored an empty netter to give the Kings three goals in the third period.

October 15 vs. New York Islanders

The Kings never trailed against the Islanders, but Doughty's dramatic shorthanded goal in the third period was not only the game winner, but also his second goal in two nights.

October 21 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The first period of this game saw the both teams score a combined five goals as the Blue Jackets took a 3-2 lead going into the second. The Kings took an early lead in the second, but Columbus tied it with just under 5 minutes remaining in the period.
Both teams were held scoreless for the bulk of the third period until the 2 minute mark when Anze Kopitar's one-handed goal gave the Kings the lead.

Dustin Brown scored an insurance goal to give the Kings a two-goal lead in the third period. And ultimately, another two points on the board.

October 24 vs. Ottawa Senators

On the second night of back-to-back road games, the Kings found themselves trailing against the Ottawa Senators by a score of 2-1 in the final moments of the third period. With just under two minutes to play, Adrian Kempe pounced on a weak behind-the-net pass from Senators goalie Mike Condon, stepped out front and tied the game.

Not content with the single point, Kempe then scored a highlight reel goal in the shootout to secure the extra point for the Kings.

October 28 vs. Boston Bruins

The Kings and Bruins traded early first period goals before playing the next 56 minutes at 1-1. However, the previous 64 minutes of hockey couldn't prepare Kings fans for the excitement of the final 0.09 seconds.

November 4th vs. Nashville Predators

The Predators' 3-0 lead over the Kings heading into the third period Saturday night was the biggest deficit the Kings have faced this season.
But just sixteen seconds in the third period, Alex Iafallo scored his first career goal.

A red line goal by Christian Folin, along with Alec Martinez's one-timer, capped off the dominant third period effort and the Kings escaped with another point in the standings.

November 7th vs. Anaheim Ducks

It appeared the Ducks would enter the third period with a 3-1 lead, but that was before Adrian Kempe scored off an impressive pass from Tanner Pearson with just 59 seconds left in the second.
The Kings increased their third period goal total to 20 when Dustin Brown converted a perfect pass from Alex Iafallo into the game-tying goal.

Dustin Brown appeared to score the go-ahead goal shortly after, but Drew Doughty was revealed to have been offside and the call was reversed. With time running down in the period, the Kings thought they had scored again as Brooks Laich knocked a loose puck past John Gibson. To the chagrin of Kings fans, the goal was nullified because Gibson's mask had been knocked off by the initial shot from Dustin Brown.
In overtime, however, Dustin Brown and the Kings would not so easily be denied.
Brown fed Nicholas Shore on the rush and Shore sent it top shelf, reaching far corner behind goaltender Ryan Miller, who was in for the injured Gibson, and the Kings had yet another dramatic win.

Who knows what the next home stance will hold, but we can guarantee it will be anything but boring.