Matt Duchene scores shootout winner, Predators top Kings 2-1
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, right, collides with Nashville Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
LOS ANGELES — Matt Duchene scored in the second round of the shootout and the Nashville Predators snapped the Los Angeles Kings' five-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory Saturday night.
Duchene, who scored his 27th shootout goal in 71 chances, put a shot between Pheonix Copley's legs for the only score in the tiebreaker.
Tommy Novak scored for the Predators and Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves.
Mikey Anderson had the Kings' goal. and Copley stopped 30 shots.
Anderson opened the scoring at 9:32 of the first period when he took the pass from Gabriel Vilardi in the slot and beat Lankinen on his glove side with a snap shot. It was the defenseman's fourth goal of the season and second in the past three games.
Nashville evened it on the power play with 55.2 seconds remaining in the first when Novak scored from high in the slot while Copley was being screened. The goal made Novak the sixth Nashville player with 10 or more goals this season.
It also was the Predators 10th power-play goal since Feb. 18, which is third in the league.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley (29) gives up a goal on a shot from Nashville Predators center Tommy Novak, not seen, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Nashville's Philip Tomasino had the best opportunity in overtime but whiffed on the shot in front of the net.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Kings forward Kevin Fiala missed the game due to a lower-body injury. Fiala, who leads Los Angeles with 68 points, left Thursday's game at Colorado after a knee-on-knee hit from Andrew Cogliano.
UP NEXT
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley (29) stops a shot against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Predators: At Anaheim on Sunday night.
Kings: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
