ST. LOUIS — The Kings got rid of some negative baggage to begin their five-game road trip.
Adrian Kempe scored a power-play goal 1:50 into overtime to lift the Kings to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, putting an end to their four-game losing streak.
Kempe’s goal came 14 seconds after Pavel Buchnevich was called for hooking on Quinton Byfield, giving the Kings a four-on-three advantage.
Alex Laferriere also scored and Darcy Kuemper made 17 saves in his first appearance since Oct. 13 as the Kings ended the four-game skid, which included a pair of overtime losses.
Justin Faulk scored and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves for the Blues, who lost for the third time in four home games this season.
The Kings controlled the scoreless first period while outshooting the Blues 10-5 and blocking seven shots. The visitors enjoyed a terrific start while putting the first six shots on goal during the first seven minutes of the game.
Phillip Danault had the Kings’ best chance in the opening frame after he found himself all alone in front of the Blues’ net after a Jake Neighbours giveaway, but Binnington made a glove save on his backhander.
The Kings outshot St. Louis 9-3 in the second period and Laferriere’s goal gave them a 1-0 lead at the 1:47 mark. Kempe created the scoring opportunity by poking the puck from Faulk as he exited his zone. That turnover sprung Laferriere for a clean break-in, which he converted by going forehand-backhand into the upper corner.
After the Blues failed to convert a power play – with Neighbours unable to redirect Brayden Schenn’s cross-ice pass to the left post – Kevin Fiala fired a shot off the crossbar as the Kings just missed doubling their lead.
Blues captain Brayden Schenn tried to give the team a spark with a big hit on Drew Doughty midway through the second and Tyler Tucker dropped the gloves with Jeff Malott a few minutes later, but St. Louis couldn’t build on it and had just three shots on goal in the frame.
After Blues defenseman Philip Broberg drew a penalty against Kuemper while driving to the net in the first minute of the third period, St. Louis capitalized on the power play to tie the score.
Faulk stepped into the slot to convert Robert Thomas’ pass from behind the net at 2:18.
PERRY DEBUTS
Veteran forward Corey Perry made his Kings debut and started his 21st NHL season after knee surgery delayed the start of his season.
The Kings also officially put captain Anze Kopitar on injured reserve after his 20th NHL season was interrupted last week by a foot injury.
Perry signed a one-year contract with the Kings as a free agent this summer, but the 2011 NHL MVP injured his knee while skating before the start of training camp in September. He underwent surgery and managed to return before the team’s initial prognosis of six to eight weeks of recovery time.
Perry spent his first 14 seasons with the rival Ducks before moving on to Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Edmonton. Perry, who has 448 career goals and 487 assists, has played in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the past six seasons, but lost each time.
Kopitar is week to week after getting hit in the foot by a deflected puck during a game against Minnesota earlier this month. The Slovenian forward announced last month that he will retire at the end of the season.
UP NEXT
The Kings continue their road trip at Dallas on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.