The Los Angeles Kings secured a 3-2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on January 31 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, improving their road trip record to 3-1-0. Adrian Kempe scored both first-period goals to give the Kings an early advantage, but Philadelphia rallied to force extra time. Quinton Byfield delivered the game-winner in overtime.
The Kings wasted no time asserting dominance, opening the scoring just over three minutes into the game. Forward Alex Laferriere won an offensive-zone faceoff, allowing defenseman Drew Doughty to fire from the point. The puck bounced in front, with Laferriere and forward Corey Perry each getting a touch before Adrian Kempe buried it for a 1-0 lead. This goal extended Kempe's point streak to six games.
Kempe doubled the advantage four minutes later, rifling home his 20th goal of the season from the slot. He had sent the puck below the goal line, where Laferriere poked it free to Perry, who quickly relayed it back to Kempe in the middle of the ice. It was Kempe's second multi-goal game of the year and Perry's second multi-assist outing, putting Los Angeles up 2-0 after the first period.
Philadelphia struck back less than a minute into the second period on a power play, carried over from a late-first-period cross-checking minor on Doughty. Forward Bobby Brink connected with Trevor Zegras on a sharp passing play, and Zegras finished from close range for his 20th goal, making the score 2-1.
The Flyers tied it early in the third, just 25 seconds in. Forward Nikita Grebenkin worked the puck to defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen at the point, whose shot appeared to deflect off Kings forward Anze Kopitar and past goaltender Darcy Kuemper for a 2-2 deadlock.
After a scoreless remainder of regulation, overtime belonged to the Kings. Quinton Byfield took a feed from Kempe, drove down the right wing, and snapped a shot past Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar on the blocker side for his 10th goal of the season, clinching the two points for Los Angeles.
Post-game audio featured comments from Byfield, Kopitar, and head coach Jim Hiller following the hard-fought win.
