Forsberg makes 17 saves, Kings shut out Senators

OTTAWA -- Anton Forsberg made 17 saves for the Los Angeles Kings in a 1-0 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.

It was his first shutout of the season and ninth in the NHL. Forsberg preserved the shutout by stopping Ridly Greig's backhand on a breakaway to keep it 1-0 at 11:21 of the third period.

“Probably his best game of the year,” Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller said. “We really needed him tonight. You look at the shots and you’d say it wasn’t a lot, but it was four or five [saves] I thought that were really important, and he got it done.”

The 32-year-old, who played 142 games for the Senators from 2021-25, signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Kings in free agency on July 1.

“It was kind of where my journey started,” Forsberg said of Ottawa. “I kind of went through waivers a bunch of times throughout [2020-21]. They picked me up and I ended up staying there for five years. It’s been a big place for my family and I, both on and off the ice. Made a lot of friends outside of hockey. It’s been our home for quite a while, so it was special.”

Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings (10-5-4), who have won the first four games of a six-game road trip.

“They couldn’t really get anywhere. We stopped them in the middle, so they couldn’t get in, couldn’t get in clean looks,” Forsberg said. “That’s the game we want to play. It’s going to be a tight game, they play the same way the other way. We got a bounce with us on the goal and we end up winning the game, so it’s great.”

Linus Ullmark made 17 saves for the Senators (9-6-4), who had their seven-game point streak end (4-0-3).

“That was a hard-fought, hard played game by both teams,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said. “Not a lot of space out there either way. Probably unfortunate that we didn’t get a point tonight.”

Laferriere tipped Mikey Anderson's point shot from in front to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead at 9:19 of the first period.

“They’re known for playing a really good, structured defensive game, keeping the opponents on the outside,” Ullmark said. “And then they try to strike when the opportunity presents itself. They’ve got some firepower up front, as well.”

Ottawa limited the Los Angeles to just seven shots through two periods but couldn't generate its own offense.

“They’re a big, long, rangy, fast team,” Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson said. “Even on the power play they didn’t give us much. They pressure pretty hard and they’ve got heavy sticks on the forecheck. That’s a good team over there.”

Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty left the game in the second period after blocking a shot off his foot. Before Doughty got off the ice, he broke up a scoring chance and cleared the puck out of the Kings’ zone.

“He’s obviously one of the biggest, if not the biggest competitor, I think, in the League,” Anderson said of Doughty. “It [stinks] to see him obviously be hurting, but again, he battles. He’s going to do anything he can to keep playing or stay engaged and involved. Hopefully it’s not too bad and he can play, hopefully, in two days.”

NOTES: Doughty was wearing a walking boot on his left leg postgame and will be reevaluated on Sunday. … Senators defenseman Jordan Spence had two shots in a season-high 21:50 of ice time in his first game against his former team.