Sissons has 3 points for Predators in win against Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Colton Sissons had a goal and two assists for the Nashville Predators in a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.

Jeremy Lauzon had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 27 saves for the Predators (30-25-2), who have won three in a row.

“We understand where we are in the standings and where we are in the season, and points are so crucial,” Sissons said.  

Kevin Fiala scored, and David Rittich allowed two goals on 19 shots for the Kings (28-17-10), who had their four-game winning streak end.

“Give them credit, they made it difficult,” Los Angeles interim coach Jim Hiller said. “And so your execution has to be even a little bit better when you’re playing a team that checks you that well, and ours wasn’t, so that made it doubly hard.”  

Yakov Trenin gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 8:47 of the first period. He got a step on Adrian Kempe and received a pass from Sissons in the left circle before sliding a backhand in off the diving glove of Rittich.

Fiala tied it 1-1 at 19:07 with a wrist shot from the high slot during a 5-on-3 power play. It was his 400th NHL point.

Mark Jankowski put the Predators back in front 2-1 at 14:46 of the second period with his second goal of the season. He swatted in the rebound of Luke Evangelista’s sharp-angled shot after Rittich tried to make the initial save standing up.

“It was just throw the puck at the net and win a battle at the net, so it was that type of game,” Hiller said.

The Kings made a push in the third period, but Saros made several key saves, including on Quinton Byfield on a breakaway at 11:54.

“He’s been playing really well lately and got some confidence, got some of his swagger back,” Sissons said of Saros, who has won consecutive starts for the first time since winning six straight from Dec. 3-16.

Sissons (17:00) and Lauzon (19:07) each scored an empty-net goal in the third for the 4-1 final.

“Just committed efforts up and down the lineup,” Sissons said. “We’re rolling everybody. Everybody’s having a positive impact. Hopefully we can keep this momentum.”

NOTES: Sissons' three points tied his NHL career high. ... Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson did not play the final 14:10 of the third period because of an undisclosed injury, Hiller said.