#LAKings Kings fall to Blues in OT in their final home game of season (Daily News)

• Kings goaltender Cal Petersen makes a save in front of the Blues’ Tyler Bozak, center, and as the Kings’ Mikey Anderson defends during the first period of Monday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Andreas Athanasiou #22 of the Los Angeles Kings stick handles between Marco Scandella #6 and Ivan Barbashev #49 of the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues skates in for a shot past Sean Walker #26 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Ivan Barbashev #49 of the St. Louis Blues attempts to block the pass between Anze Kopitar #11 and Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts to a shot next to Brayden Schenn #10 of the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Ryan O’Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues gets his shot off in front of Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings reaches for the puck in front of Brayden Schenn #10 of the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Jordan Kyrou #25 of the St. Louis Blues prepares his shot between Drew Doughty #8 and Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen (40) makes a save as St. Louis Blues center Ivan Barbashev (49) covers his head during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues left wing Zach Sanford (12) passes the puck past Los Angeles Kings center Jaret Anderson-Dolan (28) during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings center Jaret Anderson-Dolan (28) during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly (90) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) reach for the puck during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron (57) grabs the jersey of Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) blocks a pass by Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues center Dakota Joshua (54) and Los Angeles Kings center Lias Andersson (24) fight during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues center Dakota Joshua (54) and Los Angeles Kings center Lias Andersson (24) fight during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz (17), center Brayden Schenn (10) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Iafallo (19) skate to the puck during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues reacts after a collision with Rasmus Kupari #89 of the Los Angeles Kings as Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues skates past during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings center Rasmus Kupari (89) collides with St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (25) reaches the puck ahead of Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Moore (12) during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen (40) deflects a shot by St. Louis Blues left wing Mike Hoffman (68) during the first period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues left wing Zach Sanford (12), defenseman Marco Scandella (6), and Los Angeles Kings center Rasmus Kupari (89) skate to the puck during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot during the first period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings left wing Brendan Lemieux (48) during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen (40) blocks a shot during the second period of a hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) passes the puck ahead of Los Angeles Kings left wing Carl Grundstrom (91) during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot during the second period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings and Steven Santini #36 of the St. Louis Blues collide against the boards for the puck during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Colton Parayko #55 of the St. Louis Blues skates with the puck as he is rushed by Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Steven Santini #36 of the St. Louis Blues falls as he collides with Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings as Brendan Lemieux #48 comes in for the puck during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Mike Hoffman #68 of the St. Louis Blues and Jaret Anderson-Dolan #28 of the Los Angeles Kings skate after the puck during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues makes a blocker save during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Dakota Joshua #54 of the St. Louis Blues clears the puck in front of Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Tyler Bozak #21 of the St. Louis Blues scores on a backhand in front of Calvin Petersen #40 and Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 2-1 overtime win at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Tyler Bozak #21 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his goal with Jaden Schwartz #17 and Brayden Schenn #10, to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 2-1 overtime win at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues center Tyler Bozak (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Sean Walker #26 of the Los Angeles Kings reaches for the puck in front of Zach Sanford #12 of the St. Louis Blues and Anze Kopitar #11 during the third period at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) watches as a puck flies away from the goal during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) reaches behind his back to gain control of the puck during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• The Los Angeles Kings celebrate after right wing Alex Iafallo (19) scored a goal during the third period of a hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Cal Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings makes a save during the third period in a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues reacts to his goal for a 2-1 overtime win in front of Calvin Petersen #40 and Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Adrian Kempe #9, Calvin Petersen #40 and Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings react after a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Kings goaltender Cal Petersen, left, and defenseman Drew Doughty show their frustration after the St. Louis Blues scored in overtime on Monday night at Staples Center. The Blues won, 2-1, in the Kings’ final home game of the season. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his goal for a 2-1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• The St. Louis Blues celebrate after scoring in overtime to win 2-1 over the Los Angeles Kings in a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. The goal was scored by defenseman Justin Faulk (72). (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• The St. Louis Blues celebrate after scoring in overtime to win 2-1 over the Los Angeles Kings in a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. The goal was scored by defenseman Justin Faulk (72). (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  
  
• Adrian Kempe #9 and Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings react as they leave the ice after a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center on May 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• The Kings gesture to their fans after a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues in their final home game of the season on Monday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
  
  
• Fans applaud as the Kings leave the ice after their final home game of the season, a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, on Monday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  

Show Caption
of
Expand

On fan appreciation night, the Kings gave the modest crowd on hand the gift of bonus hockey, though they lost to the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, in overtime on Monday in their final game at Staples Center this season.
The Kings have won just two of nine overtime games and just one of eight one-goal games at home this season They now have just two games left on their schedule, road games at Colorado on Wednesday and Thursday.
Winger Alex Iafallo scored a goal for the Kings. Cal Petersen made his fourth consecutive start and sixth straight appearance, turning aside 17 of 19 shots.
Center Tyler Bozak and defenseman Justin Faulk scored for St. Louis. In addition to netting the game-winning goal, Faulk assisted on Bozak’s third-period goal. Jordan Binningon made 26 saves and extended his stretch without a regulation loss to eight games.
St. Louis scored 46 seconds into the three-on-three overtime period.
The puck pinged around the neutral zone, bouncing off sticks like a game of pinball with six flippers. It left the Blues with a two-on-one rush, during which winger David Perron slid the puck to Faulk, who delayed before he leaned one way and shot the other for a short-side game-winner.
“The puck bounced over (Adrian) Kempe’s stick and they took advantage of it,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan, who said he felt his team was “too cute” offensively but solid defensively in the loss.
The Kings drew a penalty late in regulation that almost got them to the buzzer and nearly earned them a win. They had a solid chance with defenseman Drew Doughty taking the puck to the net. Moments later, Doughty created greater suspense when hit the post with a shot that also ended up behind Binnington but did not enter the net.
With around 3:30 left in the game, the Blues created a scramble as their power play was about to expire, but Petersen stood his ground and the Kings cleared the puck to safety.
“We took a penalty late and it put some stress on our penalty killers. Their power play has been one of the best in the league over the past two months, but our penalty killers did a good job,” McLellan said.
With 12:25 to play, the Kings had evened the score. Center Gabe Vilardi and defenseman Olli Maatta supported each other along the end boards before Vilardi centered the puck in front for Iafallo’s one-timer. It was Iafallo’s 13th goal, and Vilardi’s assist extended his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists during that span).
“I’m feeling comfortable right now,” said Vilardi, a 2017 first-round draft pick. “I’m playing with two good linemates that both work hard, and I’m able to get the puck so I can make more plays. We’re creating right now offensively.”
“I’m feeling comfortable right now, I’m playing with two good linemates who both play hard … we’re creating now offensively, but I still think we can do more,” Vilardi said.
Ironically, 6 minutes and 10 seconds earlier, the Blues’ goal began in similar fashion, but this time Vilardi’s linemate Lias Andersson, who later helped keep their scoring play alive, failed to secure the puck the Blues’ net. That sent St. Louis the other way in transition. Bozak trailed the rush which made three passes from the red line in, two of them off the backhand, before Bozak alertly slipped a backhand shot under Petersen’s pads.
The second period saw some sustained pressure from the Kings in the middle of the frame and the Blues came on toward the end. Through two periods, St. Louis had won two-thirds of the faceoffs.
Even so, the Kings had solid possession numbers. Their percentages-for stats – Corsi, Fenwick, Shots and Scoring Chances – all got stronger as the game progressed
“St. Louis isn’t a volume shooting team to begin with, they like to set up and wait for one really good shot,” McLellan said.
The first period had plenty of pace and crisp passing, as well as a power play per side, but only 11 combined shots and no scoring.
Related Articles

• Kings prepare for St. Louis Blues in final home game
• Kings fall to Devon Toews, Avalanche
• Kings celebrate Anze Kopitar before being eliminated from playoff mix
• Kings’ Anze Kopitar helps Quinton Byfield bridge their 999-point gap
• Anze Kopitar reaches 1,000 points as Kings beat Coyotes

Prior to the game, Kings defenseman Matt Roy was announced as the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy. One player from each team is selected by its local writers as a finalist for the award, which goes to the player who best embodies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The trophy honors Bill Masterton, a former Minnesota North Star who died as a result of head injuries he sustained in a game. The Blues’ nominee was winger Vladimir Tarasenko. Former Kings Jack Campbell, a goalie with Toronto, and Milan Lucic, a winger with Calgary, were also nominated.
WORK TO DO

The Kings finished 9-14-5 at home and lost 11 of their final 14 games at Staples Center after working their way into playoff contention in March. The Kings never won more than two in a row on home ice.
“Our younger players that have been in the league now for a year or two must show improvement,” McLellan said. “They have to begin to carry more of the load, offensively, defensively, game management. It’s a must that they graduate and move on to the next level, break through.”
FANS APPRECIATED

The Kings only got to play a handful of home games in front of fans late in the season, but the players definitely appreciated the limited-capacity crowds, which they said restored at least some sense of normalcy in a season still largely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t know how many there is, if there’s 1,000 or 2,000 or whatever it is, even with that we can hear them and hear some of the chants,” Vilardi said.
News services contributed to this story.


https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/11...ame-of-season/