Kings can’t overcome Kirill Marchenko’s late OT goal, fall to Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kirill Marchenko scored with 1:16 remaining in overtime to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
Zack Werenski and Dante Fabbro also scored, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 31 shots as Columbus won its fifth straight home game. The Blue Jackets’ success keeps them in a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves for the Kings, who are in third place in the Pacific Division.
TakeawaysLos Angeles: Opening a five-game trip, the Kings rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits and tied the game late in the third period, but couldn’t close it out despite a 33-24 edge in shots on goal.
Columbus: In their only game in the middle of a nine-game run that includes eight road games, the Blue Jackets maintained their dominance at Nationwide Arena, earning their 17th home win of the season.
The Kings tied the game with 1:05 left in regulation, but after Werenski missed on an overtime penalty shot, Marchenko sealed the victory with a wrister in extra time.
Werenski’s goal in the first period extended his home point streak to 19 games, tying John Van Boxmeer for the fifth-longest streak by a defenseman in NHL history. The record is held by Bobby Orr, who recorded points in 25 consecutive home games during the 1974-75 season.
Both teams hit the road. The Kings are at Detroit on Monday. The Blue Jackets are at Las Vegas on Thursday.