Vladislav Gavrikov scored against his former team and Trevor Moore added the game winner as the Los Angeles defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-2 on Saturday night.
Columbus started the scoring in the first period after Kevin Fiala committed an egregious turnover in the neutral zone. Justin Danford picked off the errant Fiala pass to create a quick outnumbered attack, eventually finding Dmitri Voronkov at the goal mouth for his first goal of the season.
Fiala did not see the ice for the remainder of the first period, triggering speculation that he might be looking at another lengthy benching. Coach Jim Hiller chose a different path this time, putting Fiala out with his regular linemates almost immediately in the second period.
At 4:16 of the second frame, a Gavrikov wrist shot got past both Elvis Merzlikins and a screening Trevor Lewis to tie the game at 1. The goal was Gavrikov’s second of the season and second in as many games.
The Kings took the lead less than two minutes later as Sameul Helenius sprung Akil Thomas and Warren Foegele on a 2-on-1. Thomas found Foegele for the winger’s 6th goal of the season. With the assist, Helenius registered his first NHL point.
Thirty seconds into the third period, with the Kings on the penalty kill, Moore fired a wrist shot, in stride, that beat Merzlikins on the glove side. It was the 2nd goal of the season and the first in 14 games for Moore.
After Columbus’ Ivan Provorov answered just 19 seconds later, Alex Laferriere tipped home his team leading 9th of the season at 7:05 to extend the Kings’ lead to 4-2.
With the Columbus net empty, Brandt Clarke iced the game with his 2nd of the campaign. That goal marked the 11th tally from Los Angeles defensemen, tying them for the league lead with the Winnipeg Jets.
With the victory, the Kings improved to 9-4-3 and took back possession of first place in the Pacific Division. On home ice, Los Angeles is now 4-1-1. The Kings now hit the road for another two game trip, starting in Calgary on Monday night.
