Kings lose in shootout to Canucks, extend point streak to 9

LOS ANGELES --The Los Angeles Kings extended their point streak to nine games with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

Los Angeles moved into a tie with the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas was idle and has one game in hand.
Elias Pettersson scored, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes each had two assists, and Thatcher Demko made 38 saves for the Canucks (30-33-5), who are 6-1-0 in their past seven games. Andrei Kuzmenko and Miller scored in the shootout.
"We stayed with it," Miller said. "We're playing a really good hockey team that's coming together for the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs, so it's a hard game for us."

Carl Grundstrom and Alexander Edler scored, and Joonas Korpisalo made 15 saves for the Kings (40-20-10), who are 7-0-2 during the point streak.
"The chances we got were well-executed chances, and we were pretty solid in our end," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "Usually when a coach is saying that he's leaving quite pleased and the team has won, but sometimes these nights happen."
Grundstrom gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at 16:18 of the second period when a pass by Rasmus Kupari went in off his skate near the left post.

Los Angeles had a chance to extend the lead when it was awarded a penalty shot at 10:24. But after Guillaume Brisebois was called for hooking Adrian Kempe on a breakaway, Demko made the save when Kempe tried to go five-hole.
"A lot of times [Demko] makes us look good," Miller said. "When we play good in front of him, it takes the stress off him, those high-quality looks. … Don't want to give up 40 shots every night, but when you do, he only gives up two."
Pettersson then tied it 2-2 at 11:33 of the third period, scoring on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle seven seconds into a power play.
Vancouver was 1-for-1 on the power play after going 0-for-5 with the man-advantage in a 3-2 loss at the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
"The power play, obviously, was a big goal for us. Some good kills (2-for-2)," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. "Yeah, we had a couple meetings on our special teams that really helped us."

Brock Boeser gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead at 10:53 of the first period with a wrist shot from above the right circle that deflected off the stick of Edler and beat Korpisalo stick side.
Edler responded at 16:52 to tie it 1-1. After Hughes whiffed on a pass at the blue line, the Kings broke out before Gabriel Vilardi found Edler trailing in the high slot for his first goal in 32 games.
Los Angeles has allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in eight straight games.
"We talk about how we need to play as a team," Edler said, "and I think it always starts with playing solid defensively, and then you build your game from there."
NOTES:Canucks defenseman Ethan Bear had one hit, four blocked shots and was plus-1 in 23:46 of ice time after missing eight games because of a facial injury. … Korpisalo is 3-0-1 in four starts since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 1. … Los Angeles played the fourth of a season-high seven-game homestand (2-0-2) and is 8-0-2 in its past 10 home games. … Demko is 3-for-3 when facing a penalty shot in his NHL career. … Kings defenseman Jordan Spence had two shots on goal and was plus-2 in 15:14 after being a healthy scratch for three games. ... Pettersson extended his point streak to seven games (10 points; four goals, six assists). He has 32 goals this season in 65 games, tying his NHL career high set last season in 80.