One familiar face. Not two.
Former Columbus Blue Jacket Joonas Korpisalo didn't make an appearance against his former team and it didn't matter.
Four second-period goals by Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Viktor Arvidsson, and Carl Grundstrom powered the Los Angeles Kings by the Blue Jackets, 4-1, on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Grundstrom had a two-point night adding an assist. Rasmus Kupari, Quinton Byfield, Mikey Anderson, Trevor Moore, and Phillip Danault picked up the assists.
Kirill Marchenko scored for Columbus. Gavin Bayreuther earned the assist.
Pheonix Copley made 30 saves.
Daniil Tarasov made 23 saves on 27 shots before being pulled in the second period. Michael Hutchinson made all nine saves.
Columbus and L.A. split the season series 1-1.
The Blue Jackets were 0-for-2 on the power play, breaking a streak of six straight games with a power play goal dating back to Feb. 28. Entering Thursday's play, they were 6-for-15 (40%) in that span. That percentage led the league. Since second-half play began on Feb. 10, the Blue Jackets are 10th in the league on the power play (10-for-43, 23.3%).
The Kings Are kings
After a scoreless first period in which the Blue Jackets held the Kings to 15 shots, those shots started leaking through in the second period. And they weren't cheapies.
- Drew Doughty at 4:44 (Grundstrom, Kupari)
Vintage Doughty pic.twitter.com/I55YK17s9X
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 17, 2023
- Anze Kopitar at 7:42 (Byfield, Anderson)
This pass from Byfield to Kopitar. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/baegso1TSL
— Hockey Royalty (@Hockey_Royalty) March 17, 2023
- Viktor Arvidsson at 12:36 (Moore, Danault)
Viktor Arvidsson's booming one-timer beats Tarasov to put the Kings up by 3!#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/7mYJN8rWVm
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) March 17, 2023
- Carl Grundstrom at 13:48 (Unassisted)
Carl Grundstrom turns out of the corner and snipes home a beaut for the 4th Kings goal of the period!#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/cYnHHi2xWm
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) March 17, 2023
The fourth goal by Grundstrom came only 1:12 after Arvidsson's tally, chasing Tarasov and giving way for Hutchinson. Earlier in the first period, Tarasov made grade-A stops like the one below on Arvidsson.
Daniil Tarasov makes a save on Viktor Arvidsson in the 1st period #LAKvsCBJ #GoKingsGo #CBJ pic.twitter.com/eZVO9BQZ9k
— nopClips (@nopClips) March 17, 2023
Per Natural Stat Trick, Tarasov made eight high-danger saves on 10 shots. The Kings have scored at least four goals in five of their previous six games. L.A. has not allowed more than two goals in each of their last seven games, going back to Mar. 2.
Marchenko Breaks Goal Drought
Marchenko ended a season-long seven-game goalless drought with his 17th goal in the third period at 4:31. The goal has Marchenko just two off the rookie goal-scoring pace and fourth overall behind Dallas Stars' Wyatt Johnston (19), Seattle Kraken's Matty Beniers (19), and Ottawa Senators' Shane Pinto (18).
Marchenko from Bayreuther. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/c2ohBLnTkz
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 17, 2023
Marchenko's 17 goals tie him for second in franchise history with Rick Nash (2002-03) for most goals by a rookie. Pierre-Luc Dubois' 20 goals in 2017-18 are the most by a Blue Jackets rookie.
For the game, Marchenko had the goal, he co-led (Johnny Gaudreau, Boone Jenner) the Jackets with four shots, and had one blocked shot in 15:58.
Visiting Old Friends
Since the trade that sent Korpiaslo and Vladislav Gavikov to L.A., the Kings are 6-0-1 as they battle the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. Korpisalo is 3-0-0 (2.00 GAA, 9.29 SV%) since the trade.
Gavrikov has four points (one goal, three assists) and is +7 in seven games for the Kings. This note below from The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn:
Since joining the Kings he’s been on the ice for 71 percent of the expected goals while outscoring opponents 7-1. Relative to teammates the Kings’ goal differential jumps by 2.64 per 60, their goal differential by 3.44, and their shot attempt differential by over 20. He’s been a revelation next to Matt Roy, giving the Kings a strong second pair behind Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson.
and ofc Gavi. #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 17, 2023
Gavrikov had two shots, two blocked shots, one hit, and one takeaway in 21:32.
Not So Mighty Ducks
The bottom-of-the-league Blue Jackets take on the 30th-place Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday, Mar. 17 at 10:00 pm ET. The Blue Jackets lost to the Ducks, 5-3, on Jan. 19 at Nationwide Arena.
