Byfield caps Kings comeback with OT winner over Senators

Quinton Byfield delivered the decisive strike in overtime, snapping a five-goal deficit for the Los Angeles Kings and securing a 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The game at crypto.com Arena featured a dramatic third-period surge by Ottawa before Byfield’s snap shot, assisted by Drew Doughty and Artemi Panarin, sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

The final score left the Kings with a 4-6-2 record and 10 points, while the Senators dropped to 8-5-1 with 17 points.

Early Momentum Shifts

The Senators opened the scoring in the first period when Tyler Kleven scored a backhand goal, assisted by Fabian Zetterlund and Tim Stützle. Los Angeles responded immediately through Erik Haula, who tipped in a pass from Brandt Clarke and Drew Doughty to tie the game at 1-1. The home team took control in the second period, outscoring Ottawa 4-0. Trevor Moore added a tip-in, followed by Mikey Anderson and Joel Armia, who both found the net on wrist and slap shots. Artemi Panarin extended the lead to 5-1 with an unassisted snap shot, establishing a four-goal cushion that seemed insurmountable.

Ottawa’s Fierce Rally

The third period brought a dramatic shift in momentum as the Senators mounted a furious comeback. Dylan Cozens broke the scoring drought with a wrist shot, assisted by Stützle and Nikolas Matinpalo. Drake Batherson then capped his own game with a snap shot, assisted by Jake Sanderson, to pull Ottawa within one. Cozens added his second goal of the night with a poke pass finish, assisted by Stützle and Batherson, before Shane Pinto tied the game at 5-5 with a tip-in. The equalizer forced the contest into overtime, neutralizing the Kings' earlier dominance.

Deciding Moments

In the extra period, the Kings capitalized on their superior depth. Byfield’s goal, his second of the game, proved to be the difference maker. Drew Doughty was the offensive engine for Los Angeles, recording three assists in the win. For Ottawa, Cozens led the charge with two goals and three points, while Stützle provided three assists. The attendance at crypto.com Arena was 15,856, witnessing a rare high-scoring affair that ended with the Kings holding on for the win.

Sources

ESPN