National Hockey League
Los Angeles 2, Tampa Bay 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 4, 2025
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Referees: Peter MacDougall, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz, Ryan Gibbons
Attendance: 18145

The Los Angeles Kings continued their mastery of their home ice Saturday as Adrian Kempe's goal with 5:48 left in regulation beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1.

Kempe's team-leading 19th goal extended his point streak to a season-high five games. Mikey Anderson recorded his fifth goal of the season for Los Angeles, which won its fourth consecutive game and its ninth in a row at home.

Darcy Kuemper stopped a season-high 34 shots to win his third straight start and seventh in his last nine.

Victor Hedman scored for Tampa Bay, which lost its third straight. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for the Lightning.

Kempe rushed off the bench to score the game-winner after Alex Turcotte scrambled after a loose puck in the neutral zone. As Turcotte drew the attention of Lightning defensemen Emil Lilleberg and Nick Perbix, the 23-year-old's drop pass found Kempe alone in the slot. Kempe then beat Vasilevskiy to give Los Angeles its first lead of the night.

The scoring started early, with Hedman putting the Lightning up just 69 seconds into the game. Tampa Bay's captain, who left Thursday's loss at San Jose in the third period after taking a puck to the side of the head, fired one from near the blue line. Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel set up Hedman for his fifth of the season and first since Nov. 16.

Anderson tied it up nearly seven minutes later on a clean shot after Phillip Danault won a faceoff to Vasilevskiy's right.

The Kings' nine-game home winning streak ranks third in franchise history. They face the Calgary Flames at home on Wednesday with a chance to tie the second-longest streak, which ran from Oct. 13 to Nov. 20, 1990.

Earlier Saturday, the Kings activated forwards Trevor Lewis and Trevor Moore from injured reserve. Lewis, who appeared in his 1,000th career game, last played on Nov. 30 as he dealt with a lower-body injury. Moore, 29, had been out three weeks because of an upper-body issue.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Tampa Bay   Los Angeles
Victor Hedman 1 Points Mikey Anderson 1
Victor Hedman 1 Goals Mikey Anderson 1
Jake Guentzel 1 Assists Phillip Danault 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Andrei Vasilevskiy .905 Save Percentage Darcy Kuemper .971
Andrei Vasilevskiy 19 Saves Darcy Kuemper 33
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Tampa Bay 34 1 0-2 1-1 4 30
Los Angeles 21 2 0-1 2-2 4 31
Upcoming Games
  • Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Calgary. The Kings have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .750 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Lightning have a W/L % of .550 after a win and .562 after a loss.