Kings edge Predators in shootout, take over 2nd wild card in West

LOS ANGELES -- Anton Forsberg made 29 saves and stopped all three attempts he faced in the shootout for the Los Angeles Kings, who moved back into the second wild card from the Western Conference with a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.

Los Angeles is one point ahead of Nashville, which would own the tiebreaker if the two were tied, and two points ahead of the San Jose Sharks, who have a game in hand.

“I kind of like shootouts. It’s 1-on-1," Forsberg said. "... It’s not game-like, obviously, but I feel confident going in there, and it turned out the right way tonight."

Joel Armia and Scott Laughton scored for the Kings (32-26-19), who are 3-0-1 in their past four and have won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Jan. 20-27.

“I think right now the guys are pushing for each other,” Los Angeles interim coach D.J. Smith said. “We’re giving everything we got, and it won’t be for a lack of effort. It’s going to come down to someone is going to have to make a big play at the right time, and right now we’re finding that way. But there’s a lot of track left here.”

Smith declined to name a starting goaltender going forward, saying the Kings would need both Forsberg and Darcy Kuemper, who has allowed 15 goals in his past three starts (1-1-1).

“I think the display by 'Forsy' tonight, obviously, is exactly what we needed,” Smith said. “But let’s not forget that 'Kuemps' is a big part of this team, too, and we’re going to need them.”

Steven Stamkos scored for the third straight game, Roman Josi had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 26 saves for the Predators (36-31-10), who had won two in a row.

“It was a playoff hockey game, and I thought it was a lot of fun to be a part of,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “I thought both teams played extremely hard and were committed. There wasn’t a lot of room out there, and unfortunately we didn’t get the extra point.”

Armia put the Kings up 1-0 at 5:36 of the first period on a wrist shot from the left circle.

Los Angeles had been outscored 7-1 in the first period in its previous four games.

“I thought [Quinton Byfield’s] line was great right from the get-go in the first period, where they went in, they got some cycle shifts,” Smith said. “I think it was their first shift, they hemmed a man in, and they just set the tone for us. Laughton’s line, obviously, was outstanding tonight, and then they kind of did that to us in the second period.”

Stamkos tied it 1-1 at 4:29 of the second period with a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-slot saucer pass from Ryan O'Reilly during a 5-on-3 power play.

Laughton put the Kings back in front 2-1 at 13:57. Jared Wright entered the zone with speed and took the puck down to the goal line, where he then found Laughton at the top of the crease for a quick wrist shot.

“His speed is intimidating,” Smith said of Wright, who is on a three-game point streak (three assists). “I mean, it looks like he’s about to get a breakaway at all times. He can track pucks down, and he’s found ways to make some big plays for us.”

Wright, who was selected in the sixth round (No. 169) of the 2022 NHL Draft, has four assists in 18 games this season.

“I think I’m holding on to pucks a little bit longer,” Wright said. “Just learning to hold on to pucks more wears D-corps down, and I think I’ve made the right steps. But I think I can still improve.”

Nashville outshot Los Angeles 19-11 in the second period, and Forsberg had to make key saves on a dangerous chance from Filip Forsberg off Brady Skjei’s rebound with 3:34 remaining, and Zachary L'Heureux’s follow up of Justin Barron's shot at the top of the crease with 1:18 left.

The latter sequence required Anton Forsberg to make a skate save on the initial shot by Barron and then cover up the puck while lying on his back on L’Heureux’s attempt.

“A game is a game," Forsberg said. "I mean, it was an important game tonight, but the next one is important, too. The last one was, too."

Josi tied it 2-2 at 4:18 of the third period. Filip Forsberg's one-timer went wide of the net and caromed off the end boards into the left circle, where Josi one-timed it under the left pad of Anton Forsberg.

“Right from the first shift they were ready, and it took us a little while to get to our game, I thought,” Brunette said. “I thought the second and third we played the way we play when we play well.”

NOTE: Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague did not play and is day to day because of an upper-body injury he sustained in a 6-3 win at the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.