LOS ANGELES — The Dallas Stars edged the Kings, 3-1, on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena on a late goal from Arcadia native Jason Robertson.
Dallas, the NHL’s second-best team by record, had stumbled in seven of its past eight games (1-3-4) entering the evening. The Kings lost for the third time in four chances – and 13th instance across 20 games – missing the opportunity to beat both of last year’s Western Conference finalists in the span of three days after squeaking by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Quinton Byfield scored the Kings’ lone goal. Darcy Kuemper stopped 15 shots.
Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each tallied on their only shots of the contest to stay atop the team leaderboard and in the top five for goals league-wide. Matt Duchene tacked on an empty-netter. Former Duck Sam Steel and Esa Lindell both had two assists. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves.
It was the Kings’ 12th one-goal output this season, and they have won just one of those games.
“It was super frustrating. We played a really good game. Unfortunately, it was just a bad bounce at the end off a guy shooting a backhand from the blue line basically,” defenseman Drew Doughty said. “We deserved better, but at the same time, you’ve got to get more than one goal.”
As 3:46 showed on the clock, Robertson netted a fortuitous go-ahead goal as his fluttering backhand found the net after changing direction at least twice, glancing off Doughty’s stick and Mikey Anderson’s body.
“I was trying to get it on net,” said Robertson, bursting into a slight chuckle. “I was trying to get a shot, yeah.”
With Kuemper pulled, the Kings got new life after Steel hit the inside of a vacated cage’s post, but Duchene iced the Stars’ cake with 18 seconds left.
Dallas had ostensibly reclaimed the lead with 5:57 remaining following Doughty’s failed clearing attempt that led to Mikko Rantanen’s apparent goal. The Kings challenged successfully for an offside entry, keeping the tilt level.
Kuemper did his part, too, making a phenomenal save on Oskar Bäck before Radek Faksa slid the followup bid through the crease improbably.
There had been only matching minors called in the first two periods, but 5:02 into the final frame, Brandt Clarke drew a trip on Jamie Benn to send the Kings to the bout’s first power play.
At the 8:08 mark, Dallas was once again shorthanded after Nils Lundqvist took down Samuel Helenius near the net. After failing to register a shot on goal during their first man-advantage opportunity, the Kings broke through on their second with 11:18 to play.
Clarke’s shot attempt was deflected upon release by Faksa and narrowly eluded Miro Heiskanen on its way to Corey Perry. Perry’s 500th career assist was a whirling, backhanded, no-look pass to Byfield for an easy tap-in, his eighth goal of the season.
“Little milestones like that mean a lot. When your career’s over, you’ll reflect on it,” said Perry, whom Byfield ushered through the fist-bump line first. “It’s tough right now after a loss, but once it’s all said and done, you can think about it.”
The second period was carried by the Kings analytically and territorially, but to no avail on the scoreboard. They headed to the second intermission with the same 1-0 deficit they faced after 20 minutes.
They out-shot the Stars 18-9 through 40 minutes. Warren Foegele was foiled from the slot and Perry couldn’t cash in on a follow-up bid, leaving the Kings without a goal through two periods for the seventh time this season. They have gone 1-4-2 in those seven games.
The Stars scored on their first shot of the game, 3:44 after the opening draw.
Adrian Kempe’s errant pass at the offensive blue line clanked off Rantanen’s skate, sending Lindell the other way in transition. He moved the puck to Steel on the left wing, who found Johnston for a blocker-side strike from between the circles. Johnston has scored a goal in each of the three meetings with the Kings this season and five points overall.
Monday’s match was a quick-moving affair, with just two power plays and 39 faceoffs, a season-low for both franchises.
On Wednesday, the Kings will welcome the Vegas Golden Knights, who have outscored opponents 20-10 during their four-game winning streak.