The Kings, who had taken their previous eight meetings with the Ducks, including two this season, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. The Ducks got the ball rolling on a modest two-game points streak.

The Nashville Predators clinched a playoff berth with an overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, leaving the Kings and Vegas Golden Knights still in search of a firm position in the postseason. The Kings’ chance to avenge two straight first-round playoff losses to second-place Edmonton is at risk, since Vegas is one point behind them for third place in the Pacific Division with a game in hand.

Frank Vatrano, Alex Killorn and Trevor Zegras each broke out goal-scoring celebrations for the Ducks. Ryan Strome contributed two assists, with he and Vatrano being on the ice for all three Ducks goals. Lukáš Dostál made his fifth consecutive start, moving to 2-2-1 in those games on the strength of 36 saves.

Akil Thomas scored the Kings’ lone goal and Cam Talbot made 24 saves.

For the most part, the Ducks said they were unaware of their role as spoiler, though rookie Leo Carlsson continued to show awareness beyond that of even his more seasoned peers.

“I heard about it, yeah. It’s nice to destroy their hopes a little bit,” Carlsson said.

The Kings earned the game’s first lead and played their style early on, but halfway through the first period their game flattened a bit, with costly turnovers and untimely penalties fettering their efforts.

“We wanted an easy game, that was clear, and we got an easy game, except the other team beat us,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said.

The Ducks pulled away with 14:10 to play when Zegras stripped Jordan Spence at the red line and strode ahead for an unassisted goal, his fifth of an injury-plagued season. Zegras nearly scored again with 7:23 remaining when his spectacular skyward deflection dinged the crossbar, with the Kings drawing no nearer.

After going scoreless in his first three games back after recovering from ankle surgery, Zegras has accumulated five points in his past five games, including his first goal in that stretch Tuesday.

“It’s tough to jump back in and play the game that you know that you can play. For him, the more games he gets, the better he’s getting,” Killorn said. “Tonight, he had that huge goal and he made a ton of good plays out there.”

A mere 82 seconds into the final frame, the Ducks appeared to take their first lead on their first power play of the night, but Killorn’s redirection goal was disallowed after a coach’s challenge determined that he had entered the zone offside.

In something of a “puck don’t lie” moment, Killorn scored 29 seconds later. He gave the puck up for Cam Fowler at the left point, received it back and curled into the high slot for a wrist shot under the bar and his 18th goal of the campaign.

“I think I’m the one who put myself offside, so it’s frustrating. It’s hard to score goals in this league, so whenever they get taken away it’s pretty tough,” Killorn said. “I was happy that I was able to get it back quickly.”

The second period yielded no goals and only one high-danger chance. Perhaps the strongest late-period play was Matt Roy’s blast on net followed by his screen and tip of Adrian Kempe’s subsequent shot attempt.

Through 40 minutes, the two sides were knotted at one, just as they had been after 20.

The Ducks found an equalizer with 2:14 left in the opening stanza. Viktor Arvidsson’s clearing attempt got gobbled at the blue line by Strome, leaving Arvidsson, among others, out of position as the puck moved to Radko Gudas and then a wide-open Vatrano at the net front. Vatrano smacked the puck into Talbot’s pad and then into the gaping left side of the net for his team-topping 33rd goal of the season.

That came on the heels off a pair of near misses after Olen Zellweger hit the post and a golden opportunity off a two-on-one was thwarted by Drew Doughty. Troy Terry waited out Talbot near the right post before sliding the puck across to Killorn for a one-timer with Talbot scrambling to recover as Doughty slid to the ice to block the shot and foil a near-certain score.

“Our first 10, 12 minutes were great, playing Kings hockey, and we kind of drifted away from that,” Kings center Blake Lizotte said. “A few guys were on their own page more than we’d like. And you have to give them credit too. They have some skilled players and took advantage of our mistakes.”

There was no doubt about the second career goal for Thomas, who has played sparingly but impressively since joining the Kings four games ago. Just 5:50 into the contest, Trevor Lewis chipped the puck into the Ducks’ zone and crashed the net, leaving a stuff-in attempt inside the blue paint for Thomas to push home amid four defenders.

“He’s been a great addition to our line and a really easy player to play with,” Lewis said of Thomas.

Lewis, a veteran of many Freeway Faceoffs in his 16 NHL seasons, said a loss to a less competitive club in which his team allowed two goals off turnovers and a de facto power-play marker to Killorn just as Trevor Moore’s penalty expired served as a reminder to stay sharp.

“These are tough games. They’re not in the playoffs but they have a lot of skill and they’re playing freely,” Lewis said. “So, you’ve got to make sure you’re on top of your game and not taking them lightly.”

O’Ree, who had broken the NHL’s color barrier as its first Black player with the Boston Bruins in 1958 (a decade and a half before another would arrive in the pros) became a goal-scoring champion in the old Western Hockey League, partially because of a move to right wing, where he could finally see oncoming passes. O’Ree, now 88, was struck with a puck at age 19, costing him vision in his right eye, a limitation he kept a secret to continue playing hockey. So committed was O’Ree that his parents died thinking he was able to see from both eyes.

“The dreams and goals that I set for myself, seemingly were gone,” O’Ree said. “I got out of the hospital, and within five weeks I’m back on the ice. I’m a left-handed shot playing left wing, so to compensate, I had to turn my head all the way around to the right to pick the puck up. I came down and I was missing the net, and I said ‘just forget about what you can’t see and concentrate on what you can see.’”

Ahead of Tuesday’s Freeway Faceoff between the Ducks and Kings, he extended another type of commitment, his steadfast dedication to growing the game across regional and identity lines alike, as a diverse collection of players from all over North America gathered in Anaheim for on-ice work, trips to pro games and meetings with O’Ree as well as Ducks star Troy Terry, among others.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of time just meeting them for the first time and shaking their hands. These kids will never forget coming here to Anaheim,” O’Ree said. “Fifteen years from now, you could ask them, I bet you could tell you the hotel they stayed in, who they played with and everything else, because things like this mean so much to them.”

O’Ree has been honored with such distinctions as the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Order of Canada. He’s also seen players he’s inspired move on to magnificence. Though the number of Black, Asian, Latino, indigenous and other minority NHL players has remained low, Black players have become a head coach (Dirk Graham, who was also the first of four Black NHL team captains), a Norris Trophy winner (P.K. Subban), a Vezina Trophy winner (Grant Fuhr), an All-Star Game MVP (Wayne Simmonds), an Art Ross Trophy winner (Jarome Iginla) and, most recently, a general manager (Mike Grier).

While O’Ree cherishes the esteem and gratitude he’s felt from subsequent pioneers, he also looked forward to meeting new trailblazers, such as Arcadia’s own Jason Robertson, a Filipino-American who has become an unstoppable force for the Dallas Stars while his brother Nick has cracked the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster.

“Today, you’ve got East Indian players, West Indian players, Asian players. If you don’t have Mr. O’Ree breaking that color barrier, I don’t think that happens,” said Simmonds, who began his NHL career with the Kings. “It’s not only just for black hockey players – obviously he’s a big inspiration for us – but he helped break down a lot of different stereotypes.”

O’Ree has been very enthused to see the proliferation of participation in women’s hockey, from the grassroots level to the inaugural season of the PWHL.

“I’m so tickled about the growth of women’s sports. I’ve had girls at these Willie O’Ree weekends who have outshined the boys. You couldn’t tell, until they took their helmets off, that they were any different,” O’Ree said.

Even though his playing days ended about 45 years ago, O’Ree still logs plenty of miles in the air, using La Mesa as a launching pad to travel extensively, mostly through the U.S.

But as a young multi-sport athlete in New Brunswick, his initial crossing of Canada’s southern border was informative, formative and harrowing. He was invited to a minor-league baseball tryout for the Milwaukee Braves with their affiliate in Georgia, where O’Ree said he experienced bigotry, segregation and ugliness to which he had not been exposed. When he was cut from the team, O’Ree said he exhibited sadness but felt jubilation at the prospect of returning home.

“Blacks had to sit at the back of the bus. In five days on the bus, as we’re rambling up through the north, I start moving up on the bus,” O’Ree said. “Now I’m sitting at the center of the bus. I arrived in Bangor, Maine, and then I was sitting at the front of the bus. Another three hours, I’m in my hometown and I stepped off the bus and said to myself, ‘Willie, forget about baseball, concentrate on hockey.’”

O’Ree was traded to the Blades at a time when he was still in the continuum of NHL-affiliated clubs, which the Blades were not. But the ostensible demotion took O’Ree to the region he’s called home since the 1960s, where he met his wife, created his family and cemented his presence in several communities.

“The best move I ever made was coming here,” O’Ree said.

“Being from the eastern part of Canada where there’s eight feet of snow everywhere you look in the wintertime, coming out here, I fell in love with the climate. The team I played for treated me well and I just fell in love with the place. I got married here in 1969. I said, ‘this is great.’”

O’Ree has been a fixture at rink openings, clinics and outreach efforts, especially in Southern California, where hockey was a niche sport with no top-level pro franchises when O’Ree was first getting acclimated.

“I couldn’t imagine in the ’60s how hockey would blossom. But I knew, when Wayne Gretzky came to the Kings, hockey started to flourish,” O’Ree said inside Irvine’s Great Park Ice. “More kids had the opportunity to play, and I could tell then that this was going to be a booming place for these kids to play as they built more of these facilities.”

In addition to that transformation in Southern California, O’Ree has seen players he met as amateurs mature through NHL careers and even enter into management and media, with players like Anson Carter, Kevin Weekes and Subban all assuming prominent roles in broadcasting.

“We all had a dream to play in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup, but throughout my career I’ve realized that I have more responsibility and in a different way than some of those players can realize. More and more are realizing it now. That’s not a burden, that’s not something that you carry on your shoulders, it’s just a responsibility,” Subban said.

“At the end of the day, that’s going to outgrow the game. It brings it back to Willie O’Ree once again, who is such a great people person, someone that anyone can feel comfortable talking to and someone that the whole hockey world has tremendous respect for. I think everything starts with him.”

KINGS AT DUCKS

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

TV: Bally Sports SoCal, KCAL (Ch. 9)

• 

  Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser, center, shoots to score past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, center Pierre-Luc Dubois, second from left, and defenseman Mikey Anderson during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe celebrates with the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander, left, and Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, right, shoots past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence shoots to score during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, left, shoots to score past Vancouver Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith (19) and defenseman Carson Soucy (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, right, celebrates his goal with center Anze Kopitar during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy (3) gets his shot blocked by Vancouver Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith (29) as defenseman Filip Hronek (17) chases during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, right, shoots against Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Vancouver Canucks center Dakota Joshua (81) celebrates his goal with right wing Conor Garland (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

LOS ANGELES — The Kings won their season series against the Pacific Division’s top team and leapfrogged two other clubs in the postseason race on Saturday night as they toppled the Vancouver Canucks, 6-3, at Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings moved to 3-0-1 against Vancouver, the one Western Conference playoff team against which they’ve had consistent success. They also vaulted over the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights, presently occupying the third position in the Pacific, which would set up a third consecutive first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers as things stood Saturday.

Adrian Kempe paced the Kings with two goals and an assist. Kevin Fiala and Drew Doughty each produced a goal and an assist. Alex Laferriere and Trevor Moore both notched a goal while captain Anze Kopitar contributed two assists. Cam Talbot made 39 saves in an understated but highly effective outing.

Brock Boeser, Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger all tallied for Vancouver. Casey DeSmith came up with just 23 saves.

The Kings’ play ebbed and flowed, but timely responses in the form of scores and saves alike propelled them to a third victory in four nights.

“Good mood. Good vibes. We had another win tonight, against a good team, maybe against a potential playoff [opponent],” Fiala said.

Though the Kings had not quite been analytical darlings through 40 minutes, they carried a lead into the third period, a situation that has now seen them earn at least a point on all 35 occasions, including 32 wins.

They slathered on a final goal shorthanded with 2:40 remaining in the match when Kempe dashed the other way on a counterattack, finishing his breakaway with a low shot for his second goal of the evening and 27th of the season.

The Kings previously reestablished a three-goal edge with some signature work on the forecheck by Moore, Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault, who returned to action after missing four games with an upper-body injury. Moore initiated the sequence before Arvidsson won the puck and sent it back to Moore, keying a give-and-go play in tight that saw Moore score his 30th goal of the year inside the near post with 9:25 to play.

“I don’t think when we made that trade [with Toronto] that we expected 30 goals out of him, no offense, but that’s amazing,” Doughty said of the Thousand Oaks native. “For a hometown boy, too, he loved the L.A. Kings growing up, it’s pretty special for him and his family, but it’s special for all of us, too.”

Vancouver scored on a pair of sticktoitive forays on each side of that Kings goal, at 7:23 and 12:35. First, J.T. Miller gained the zone amid three Kings defenders, weaving his way into a backhand shot that created a rebound to be mopped up by Joshua. Blueger would later add a persistent shorthanded goal to draw the Canucks within two.

After absorbing much of the play as the first period progressed, the Kings provided a response territorially and, more importantly, on the scoreboard in the second period.

They took a commanding 4-1 lead 8:49 into the frame. Then, a long lob by Kopitar from deep in the defensive zone sailed to the red line before it wobbled ahead as Fiala smoked defenseman Carson Soucy badly enough to reach the puck, backhand it into DeSmith’s pad and then score on a second forehand followup for his 27th goal of 2023-24. Fiala has 13 points in his past 11 games.

“[Kopitar put] great touch on the puck up over the D-man’s head, but then (Fiala) had to do a lot of work to score,” Hiller said. “There’s not many guys that can score that kind of goal. His strength and his competitiveness are evident in the goal, because he has to have edges, fight people off and stay on it for the second time.”

The Kings had taken just 2:09 to gain a bit of separation when Fiala set up a one-time blast from Jordan Spence. His shot was tipped skyward and just under the crossbar by Laferriere for his 12th goal of the campaign.

Boeser continued to excel against the Kings scoring his 17th goal in 20 career games against the Kings to halve Vancouver’s deficit with 9:12 to play in the first period after he stickhandled into traffic and scored to the far side.

“It was great to get the goals, great to get the lead but I thought we sagged a little bit after we got the two quick goals and they started to push a little bit,” Hiller said.

The Kings had staked themselves to a two-goal advantage off two early power-play goals, at the 2:48 and 5:45 marks, scoring on two of their first four shots.

Doughty moved the puck from the right point to the right circle and then reappeared atop the left circle to pop a rising redirection over DeSmith and into the net for goal No. 15, putting him one shy of the career high he set in 2009-10.

Opening the scoring was Kempe, skating down Kopitar’s pass into space near the right point before he zoomed to the dot and fired a hard wrist shot inside the far post. Kempe has compiled 19 points in his last 14 games.

Though playoff position for most of the Western contenders remained volatile, the Kings took three of four from the Canucks, one of several clubs that they could face in Round 1.

“We’d be feeling good, but, at the same time, it’s a whole new season,” Doughty said. “When we beat (Vancouver) in 2012, they were the best team in the league, I’m sure they owned us that season, but nothing mattered when the playoffs started.”

Trevor Moore’s hat trick on Wednesday and two goals in 18 seconds on Thursday gave the Kings a pair of victories, both against less competitive clubs, that all but assured their spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Saturday night, they could be in for a postseason preview when they welcome the Pacific Division-leading Vancouver Canucks.

Akil Thomas’ first career goal in the first period stood as the game-winner in a 2-1 win over oh-so-lowly San Jose. The Kings’ early and ephemeral outburst proved enough to lift them a commanding seven points above the St. Louis Blues with six games to play. That, along with Wednesday’s 5-2 win against struggling Seattle, all but decided the wild-card race, essentially cementing a third straight playoff berth for the Kings.

The Blues lost on Thursday, 6-3, to the Nashville Predators, but at least one King said he was entirely unaware of their fate, with Pierre Luc-Dubois eschewing any late-season scoreboard surveillance.

“At this time of the year, especially when we’re in that spot right now, it’s ours to lose and you don’t want to be looking behind, you want to be looking ahead,” Dubois said. “It’s not a switch you turn on for the playoffs. It’s this race, it’s this mindset that goes until the end of the year. Then, once the playoffs start, you’re where you want to be.”

Dubois registered a secondary assist on Thomas’ goal, giving him four assists in his last two games and 11 points in his past 11 outings. Simultaneously, Gabriel Vilardi, the centerpiece of the trade package to Winnipeg that was swapped for Dubois, netted a hat trick against Calgary on Thursday.

Dubois and associates will now turn their attention to Vancouver, which trails the Central Division-topping Dallas Stars by three points for the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference. Whether they leapfrog Dallas or not, as long as the Canucks remain atop the Pacific (they have a seven-point lead over Edmonton, which has two games in hand on Vancouver) they could be the Kings’ opponent in a first-round series. The Kings are just one point behind the first wild-card slot’s owners, Nashville, and either of those two berths would set up a matchup with a division champion.

Though the Kings’ signature wins against the West’s best have been few and far between – they’ve prevailed just seven times against the other seven playoff-bound squads – they’ve beaten Vancouver twice and taken them to overtime in a third meeting. The Canucks are the only club in that group whom the Kings have not lost to in regulation and the only one against whom they have a winning record this season.

They’ve split four games since a 3-2 loss to the Kings on March 25, in step with their 5-4-1 record since a March 9 victory during which franchise goalie and San Diego native Thatcher Demko sustained a lower-body injury. Technically, Demko would be eligible to return on Saturday, but he should be considered doubtful against the Kings. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet did tell reporters earlier this week that Demko was expected back before the end of the regular season.

Forward Brock Boeser has racked up 16 goals and 22 points in 19 career clashes with the Kings, including two goals and three points in three meetings this season.

Vancouver at Kings

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: Bally Sports SoCal

The award recognizes “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey” and honors Masterton, the only player to die as a direct result of an injury sustained during NHL competition. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who returned to competition after a stroke for the second time in his career, was last year’s winner.

Both Arvidsson, a Swedish winger in his third campaign with the Kings, and Vaakanainen, a Finnish blue-liner whom the Ducks acquired near the 2022 trade deadline, have battled through multiple injuries and surgeries in recent seasons.

Arvidsson, whose up-and-down health was a significant reason the Nashville Predators traded their seventh-leading goal-scorer in franchise history to the Kings in 2021, underwent two major back surgeries between spring of 2022 and fall of 2023. Just 17 seconds into his fourth game back from his most recent rehabilitation, he sustained an unrelated lower-body injury that took him off the ice and put him back in the trainer’s room. The Kings have won nine of 12 games with Arvidsson in the lineup and all six games in which he’s registered at least one point.

“It’s been a battle, it’s been 12 months of rehab from different injuries and stuff like that,” Arvidsson told Kings blogger Zach Dooley. “A lot of early mornings, going to work every day, just trying to be positive and trying to kind of bring energy to the team and certain things. It’s a great honor [to be nominated] and I’m really happy that people thought about me.”

At 25, five years Arvidsson’s junior, Vaakanainen has also experienced more than his share of injury woes already at the NHL level. The former Boston first-rounder sustained a concussion while playing with the Bruins in just his second NHL game and then another in 2022. A hard spill into the boards cost him over a month of last season, a campaign that was ultimately cut short after 23 games when Vaakainen required hip surgery.

Though he’s had to play while recuperating and rehabilitating, he’s been available to the Ducks in every game this year and he has dressed in 65 of them. He’s formed a formidable shutdown pairing with veteran Radko Gudas, who was set to return Friday from an injury of his own, when they’ve been deployed together.

“Staying healthy and getting to play is a big thing,” Vaakanainen told Derek Lee of The Hockey News. “Just getting the reps and staying consistent. I feel like I’m getting better every day.”

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  Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson skates as San Jose Sharks right wing Justin Bailey (90) falls to the ice during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Andreas Englund (5) defends against San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc, right, during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Matt Roy skates during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (29) defends against Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro, left, defends against Kings defenseman Matt Roy during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Matt Roy skates during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, right, scores against San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings right wing Adrian Kempe is congratulated as he skates by the bench after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks defenseman Kyle Burroughs, left, shoves Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov during the first period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings left wing Kevin Fiala skates with the puck during the second period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Andreas Englund (5) and San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) are separated after a fight during the second period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings left wing Kevin Fiala skates during the second period of their game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks defenseman Calen Addison (33) and Kings center Trevor Lewis (61) work for position next to Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood during the third period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks right wing Filip Zadina, left, and Kings right wing Alex Laferriere vie for the puck during the third period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, right, defends against San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund during the third period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, center, defends the net during the third period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  San Jose Sharks right wing Justin Bailey, left, skates with the puck as Kings center Akil Thomas defends during the third period on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings defenseman Andreas Englund, left, and goalie David Rittich celebrate after their 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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  Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, center right, and goalie David Rittich, right, touch helmets after the team’s 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in San Jose. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

By BEN ROSS The Associated Press

SAN JOSE — Akil Thomas scored his first NHL goal and David Rittich stopped 15 shots as the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks, 2-1, on Thursday night to improve their playoff position.

“It felt amazing,” Thomas said. “For me, I just wanted to have a good first (period). To score in the first period kind of just made the nerves go away and made me feel a little bit more comfortable.”

Adrian Kempe also scored for the Kings, who moved seven points ahead of St. Louis for the second Western Conference wild card with six games remaining. The Kings also stayed one point behind Nashville for the top wild card and climbed within one point of Vegas for third place in the Pacific Division.

“We’re well aware of who’s ahead of us, who’s behind us,” Thomas said. “I think we just come to every game knowing that we need the win.”

Klim Kostin scored for the last-place Sharks, who have lost 11 of 12 and are 0-7-1 in their last eight games against the Kings. Mikael Granlund had an assist to extend his point streak to six games.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves in the loss.

“I didn’t love our team’s first period,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “They played much better in the second and third.”

Kempe scored his 25th goal on a breakaway midway through the first period to give the Kings an early lead.

Thomas scored 18 seconds later to make it 2-0. The 24-year-old center was playing his second NHL game. He had 22 goals in 61 games this season for Ontario in the American Hockey League.

Kostin put the Sharks on the board with 1:52 left and Blackwood pulled for an extra skater.

“In the end, all anybody cares about tomorrow is, did you get the two points or didn’t you?” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “So we’ll take the two points. We’ll leave this one behind. We’ll have a rest tomorrow and then we’ll work on the next two points.”

The Kings outshot the Sharks 27-16.

Rittich’s best save came in the first period when he stopped Filip Zadina on a partial breakaway.

“We didn’t give them much,” Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois said. “We clogged the middle of the ice pretty well. And when we made mistakes, (Rittich) was huge for us.”

Kings center Phillip Danault missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury.

San Jose center Jack Studnicka played his 100th NHL game.

UP NEXT

The Kings host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday at 7 p.m.

FIRST NHL GOAL FOR AKIL THOMAS@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/zrGFPgW5sa

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

Akil Thomas talks about the win and scoring his first NHL goal@LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/koLVQ1rlO3

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

JUICY BREAKAWAY@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/qvgwkDmexD

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

Coach Hiller gives final thoughts @LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/1jwEeWqWj7

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

Jordan Spence talks about the win with @CarrlynBathe@LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/D9KQT1BGdT

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

PLD talks about the win@LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/7k9f5J6rFb

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 5, 2024

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore, right, scores past Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the third period on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. It was Moore’s third goal of the game. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky, right, falls in from of Kings center Blake Lizotte during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings center Blake Lizotte, told, jumps over Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky after Burakovsky fell in front of him during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, second from left, celebrates his power-play goal with left wing Viktor Arvidsson, second from right, and left wing Kevin Fiala, right, as Seattle Kraken defenseman Will Borgen skates away during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle, left, shoots the puck past Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken left wing Tye Kartye, left, passes the puck past Kings defenseman Matt Roy during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, left, shoots the puck as Kings defenseman Andreas Englund defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Los Angeles Kings reaches for the puck in front of Oliver Bjorkstrand #22 of the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Jordan Eberle #7 of the Seattle Kraken has his shot blocked by Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings covers his mouth as he talks before a face off against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Cam Talbot #39 and Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings defend a pass from Jaden Schwartz #17 of the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates a power play goal with Drew Doughty #8, Anze Kopitar #11, Viktor Arvidsson #33 and Kevin Fiala #22, to take a 1-0 lead over the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Alex Laferriere #78 of the Los Angeles Kings pokes the puck away from Yanni Gourde #37 of the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Oliver Bjorkstrand #22 of the Seattle Kraken is pushed by Andreas Englund #5 of the Los Angeles Kings as he skates to the puck during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Jordan Spence #21 of the Los Angeles Kings intercepts a pass in front of Cam Talbot #39 during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore, left, scores on Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken makes a save in front of Quinton Byfield #55 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck in front of Matty Beniers #10 of the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings plays the puck along the boards as he is checked by Adam Larsson #6 of the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Vince Dunn #29 of the Seattle Kraken clears the puck in front of Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Vladislav Gavrikov #84, to take a 2-0 lead over the Seattle Kraken, during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Vince Dunn #29 of the Seattle Kraken clears a rebound in front of Philipp Grubauer #31during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken reacts as Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings scores as Adam Larsson #6 watches during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Viktor Arvidsson #33 in front of Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken, to take a 3-0 lead, during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kraken reacts as Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings falls on top during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken reacts as Alex Laferriere #78 of the Los Angeles Kings deflects a pass wide during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken makes a save in front of Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts as he leaves the ice after an injury during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken makes a save on Kevin Fiala #22 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky, second from left, scores on Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Actor Will Ferrell, left, cheers along with his son Mattias as Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, stands in goal during the second period of a game between the Kings and the Kraken on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, deflects a shot as Kings center Blake Lizotte, center, and defenseman Will Borgen watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Viktor Arvidsson during the second period of their game against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, center, tries but fails to get the puck by Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, left, reaches for Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky as Burakovsky takes the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, top, falls over Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Trevor Moore of the Kings scores his hat trick goal past Philipp Grubauer of the Seattle Kraken during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 03: Cam Talbot #39 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts as Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kduring scores, to trail 3-1, during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kraken celebrates his goal with Jordan Eberle #7, to trail 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings makes a pass around Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Kevin Fiala #22 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Blake Lizotte #46, to take a 4-2 lead over the Seattle Kraken during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Tye Kartye #52 of the Seattle Kraken takes a cross check from Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his hat trick with Cam Talbot #39 during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win over the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Cam Talbot #39 of the Los Angeles Kings makes a save during the third period in a 5-2 Kings win over the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore gestures as a hat falls in front of him after scoring his third goal against Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer for a hat-trick during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot by Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Seattle Kraken left wing Tye Kartye, below, falls while under pressure from Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore skates past several hats after scoring his third goal of the night during the third period of their 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. It was his second career hat trick. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Kings left wing Trevor Moore, left, hugs goaltender Cam Talbot after the Kings defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2 in an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his hat trick and a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken with Matt Roy #3 and Cam Talbot #39 at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES — The Kings halted their three-game losing streak as Trevor Moore’s second career hat trick spearheaded a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

It was a reversal of fortune from a road trip that saw them win one game by a goal then drop three straight, wrapping up with a loss in Winnipeg during which Moore failed to score on a short-handed breakaway 10 seconds before the Jets’ Cole Perfetti deposited the game-winning goal. Moore, who missed 23 games last year, has dressed in every contest this season and has blown past his career high by a 12-goal margin already, thanks in part to his second career hat trick.

“We knew the game was important for us. It wasn’t our best road trip, and it wasn’t a masterpiece tonight, but we stuck with it,” Moore said, breaking his relative stoicism to call scoring a hat trick “the coolest thing ever.”

Moore’s next goal will be his 30th, which leads the team.

“It feels vindicating, I guess, but most importantly it just feels good to be able to play as many games as I have so far this year, hopefully all 82. It feels good to be healthy,” Moore said.

Wednesday’s win moved the Kings five points clear of the St. Louis Blues for the Western Conference’s final wild-card berth and to within three points of the Vegas Golden Knights for the third playoff slot in the Pacific Division with seven games to play. Both St. Louis and Vegas were idle on Wednesday.

Moore represented the San Fernando Valley proudly with his trio of goals. Kevin Fiala scored on a breakaway and assisted on Adrian Kempe’s power-play goal. Pierre-Luc Dubois recorded his first three-point game as a King with three assists and Viktor Arvidsson added two assists of his own. Cam Talbot made 21 saves as the Kings ended their longest losing streak since the 1-6-4 midseason skid that cost former coach Todd McLellan his job.

Phillip Danault (upper-body injury) missed his third straight game and will not accompany the team for Thursday’s game in San Jose.

Andre Burakovsky and Brian Dumoulin each notched a goal for Seattle. Philipp Grubauer stopped 22 shots.

With 3:03 remaining in the game, Moore beat Jordan Eberle to a loose puck in the neutral zone and zoomed ahead to slip the puck through Grubauer’s five hole, completing the Thousand Oaks native’s first hat trick since November 2022.

“Kevin’s goal really brought (the fans) out of their seats and then Mooresy had to get another one, and it brought them out of their seats again,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “We’ve had some really loud, boisterous crowds, and, believe me, they pick the guys up.”

The Kings and Kraken traded goals near the middle of the third period with the Kraken responding at the 11:20 mark to the Kings’ insurance marker 35 seconds earlier.

Yanni Gourde stole the puck in the neutral zone and started a give-and-go play with Brandon Tanev that generated a dangerous shot for himself before he recovered the puck and found Dumoulin behind the play to cut the visitors’ deficit to 4-2.

The Kings had cushioned their lead off after Blake Lizotte’s diving shot block sent Fiala off to the races for a breakaway goal that saw him wait out Grubauer and roof the puck for tally No. 26 of the year.

The hosts seemed poised to check their way to a win but a double minor penalty for high-sticking to Lizotte, whose twig appeared to be lifted into Jared McCann’s face by McCann himself, added intrigue to the final 20 minutes of the match.

Oliver Bjorkstrand nearly scored, striking the inside of the post, and soon after he made a cross-crease pass to Burakovsky for a tap-in goal with 14:20 to play.

The Kings headed to the second intermission with a three-goal lead – a situation that’s now win seen them win 30 of 33 times and earn at least a point in all 33 instances – as another contained frame tripled their advantage off two goals from Moore at the 7:39 and 11:49 marks.

Moore got his second goal of the game after Arvidsson’s takeaway in the neutral zone allowed him to move the puck ahead for Dubois, who found a trailing Moore for a snapshot and then a forehand-to-backhand finish on his followup bid.

“We were creative offensively and, obviously, it was tough for Moore, he had some chances in Winnipeg and today he gets a hat trick, so it’s awesome to see,” Arvidsson said. “He stepped up.”

Moore’s prior tally came after he extended the Kings’ attack by picking Tomas Tatar’s pocket as Tatar tried to exit Seattle’s zone. That set off a sequence that culminated in Moore deflecting home Matt Roy’s shot-pass from the left point to the right post.

“He works like crazy,” Hiller said of Moore. “He’s one of the guys that we talk about, like usually with the guys who are workers and don’t score as much, he’s a guy who’s scoring like crazy this year but he’s such a worker that everybody feels good about him scoring because he’s got quite a work ethic and they appreciate the little things he does as well.”

Two teams with tempered approaches produced a predictably low-event period, with the Kings earning the stanza’s lone goal on the power play and killing a penalty of their own.

Fiala had lit up Burakovsky in the neutral zone but later on the same shift he took a holding penalty. The Kings killed the penalty to preserve their one-goal edge.

They’d earned that advantage 9:24 into the game on a play wherein all five Kings skaters touched the puck, which concluded with the Swedish connection between Arvidsson and Kempe in the slot for a redirection, his 24th goal of 2023-24. Fiala, a Swedish speaker, earned the secondary assist on a play Hiller described as “great execution” to open the scoring.

“We’ve got to get rolling here and we’ve got to get hot going into the playoffs,” Moore said. “You know that the hottest team going into the playoffs can be dangerous and we want to be that team.”

They will include six home games, beginning when they welcome the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night.

The stretch run should provide a soft landing given that it will pit the Kings against just one playoff-bound opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, and that half of their remaining games will be played against the NHL’s three worst teams by record (two against the Ducks and one meeting apiece with the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks). They’ve gone 6-0-1 against those franchises so far with five of their victories coming by three goals or more.

Yet the Kings have lost three straight decisions and split their past 20 games evenly between wins and losses, while the team that could knock them out of the playoff picture, the St. Louis Blues, has gone 8-2-1 in its last 11 contests.

“We’ve got to be on our toes, it’s still every single night, two points for us,” defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov said. “On home ice, we’re going to have our crowd cheering for us; it’s huge that we’re going to be home for a while.”

Yet on the road trip they went from snapping point streaks – they blacked out surges by the New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning at home in March – to cushioning falls as they ended skids of five and six games, respectively, for Calgary and Winnipeg.

With their tepid performance north of the border, the Kings were all but welded to the second wild-card spot. In order to preserve their place in the postseason, they’ll have to hold off the Blues. They sit just three points behind the Kings but have played an additional game and in their remaining seven clashes will face three clubs sure to secure a playoff berth in Carolina, Dallas and Nashville.

While circumstances favored the Kings, they did themselves few favors with their showings against the West’s top teams. With their penultimate clash against a playoff team or hopeful in the West now completed, Monday’s 4-3 loss in Winnipeg, the Kings have now gone 7-12-3 against the other seven teams destined for spring hockey, and they also dropped two of three to St. Louis. Against the top five teams in the Central, they posted a 4-10-1 mark, with their likely opponent in the first round, the Dallas Stars, sweeping them by way of three decisive victories and a 13-3 aggregate score.

While vagaries and platitudes continued to dominate discourse after the Winnipeg game, some suspect goaltending from Laurent Brossoit early negated heavy advantages in both scoring chances and the quality thereof for the Jets. For the Kings’ part, they passed on some excellent looks offensively and continued to struggle finishing overall.

“We had a couple right between the hash marks that we didn’t shoot, so you wonder why you’re doing that,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “Overall, the effort is good, the result is bad.”

One player who hasn’t struggled to finish has been Anze Kopitar, who scored eight goals and 13 points in his past nine outings. In the 60 days (and 26 games) between Dec. 30 and Feb. 28, Kopitar mustered just three goals as he battled through adverse conditions on both the individual and team levels.

A player who the Kings’ next opponent hopes can develop into the sort of 200-foot force that Kopitar has been for nearly two decades is Seattle’s rookie pivot Shane Wright.

After a campaign split between three levels similar to that of the Kings’ Brandt Clarke last season, Wright has spent most of this year in the minors. But 2022’s No. 4 overall draft selection had a brief stint with the big club in November before returning Monday to score his first goal of the season and the second of his NHL career. It came in a 4-2 win over San Jose that gave Seattle its third victory in four games, with the other two coming against the Ducks.

SEATTLE AT KINGS

When: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: Bally Sports West

KINGS AT SAN JOSE

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: SAP Center, San Jose

TV: Bally Sports West

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  The Kings’ Anze Kopitar, center, and Winnipeg Jets players Adam Lowry (17) and Gabe Vilardi (13) skate after a loose puck during the first period on Monday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Matt Roy (3) gets tangled up with the Winnipeg Jets’ Nino Niederreiter (62) in front of Kings goaltender Cam Talbot (39) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) scores on Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, back left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Kings goaltender Cam Talbot (39) makes a save on the Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti, back right, as Jordan Spence (21) and Andreas Englund (5) defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson (33) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammate Trevor Moore (12) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Quinton Byfield, right, the Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Samberg (54) and Dylan Demelo (2) fight for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  A shot by the Kings’ Anze Kopitar gets by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Kevin Fiala (22) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammate Matt Roy (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey (44) celebrates his goal against the Kings with Nate Schmidt (88) and teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey (44) celebrates his goal against the Kings with Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan celebrates his goal against Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, top left, with Neal Poink (4) and Josh Morrissey (44) during the second period on Monday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Jets won, 4-3. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) celebrates with teammates after their 4-3 victory over the Kings on Monday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) celebrates his goal against the Kings with Nate Schmidt (88) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) celebrates his goal against the Kings with Nate Schmidt (88) and teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Winnipeg-born linesman Ryan Galloway (82) acknowledges the crowd during his last game officiating during the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Kings and Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, bottom left, makes a save on the Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (17) as Matt Roy (3) and Drew Doughty (8) defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson (33) holds the stick of the Winnipeg Jets’ Morgan Barron (36) as Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) clears the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Kings goaltender Cam Talbot (39) directs the puck behind the net as the Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) slides past him during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) is checked by the Winnipeg Jets’ Brenden Dillon (5) in front of goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday, April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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  Winnipeg-born linesman Ryan Galloway (82) shakes hands with Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Demelo (2) after officiating his last NHL hockey game as the Jets played the Kings in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Monday April 1, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Maintaining momentum is challenging, especially on the road.

Cole Perfetti scored twice and Kyle Connor contributed a trio of assists as the Winnipeg Jets snapped a six-game losing skid with a 4-3 victory over the Kings on Monday, sending the Kings to their third straight loss to cap a four-game road trip.

The Jets went on the game’s first power play midway through the third period with the score tied at 3-3. Perfetti, a healthy scratch for the past two games, fired a low shot past Kings goalie Cam Talbot two seconds after the man advantage expired.

Josh Morrissey had a goal and an assist and Sean Monahan also scored for the Jets. Perfetti registered a helper on Morrissey’s second-period tally. Laurent Brossoit made 25 saves for Winnipeg.

Viktor Arvidsson, Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings. Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov had two assists and Talbot stopped 28 shots.

“We had a lot of guys who played really hard, I thought,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “(The Jets are) a good team, they were desperate.

“I thought it was a good hockey game both ways. We go down and have a breakaway, they come back and get one. It’s that close.”

Both sides have struggled recently, with Winnipeg going 0-5-1 heading into the match. The Kings limp home with their three-game skid.

The Kings hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a three-point cushion on the St. Louis Blues. Winnipeg is third in the Central Division, six points up on the Nashville Predators.

Monday’s game was tied 1-1 after the first period and 3-3 heading into the third.

Perfetti flipped in a loose puck at the side of the crease to give the Jets a 1-0 lead 11:14 into the opening frame.

Arvidsson tied the score at 12:30 with a blast from high in the circle.

It was the second goal of the campaign for Arvidsson, who has played just 10 games in an injury-marred season punctuated by back surgery in October and a lower-body injury in late February.

Fiala got the puck rolling in a four-goal second period when he recorded his 25th goal after spinning quickly and firing the puck past a screened Brossoit at 5:48.

A five-minute span later in the period had fans cheering.

Monahan evened the score at 2-2 at the 11:49 mark when a pass from Morrissey went in off his skate.

The Kings broke the tie just over two minutes later with Kopitar’s 26th goal of the season from the slot, but Morrissey made it 3-3 at 16:47.

“That game was back and forth for us,” Gavrikov said. “Didn’t get the result, obviously.

“That’s exactly what we’re looking for in the next games and just got to move on. Every single game matters for us, every single point has got to matter.”

Arvidsson was called for holding the stick at 11:03 of the third.

Kings forward Trevor Moore went on a short-handed breakaway, but fired wide of the net.

The Jets then went the other way and Perfetti scored his 17th at 13:05.

OFFICIAL CHEERS

Ryan Galloway was recognized for officiating in his final NHL game during a third-period stoppage in play.

Players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice and fans gave the Winnipeg product a standing ovation as he patted his striped shirt above his heart.

Galloway, who had family and friends in the stands wearing striped shirts, has worked more than 1,400 games since entering the league in 2002.

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The Kings host Seattle on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Of late, both the Kings and the team they’ll visit in Manitoba on Monday have heard loud beeping noises as they back their way into the postseason.

The Kings have lost two straight games feebly while seeing their previously dominant penalty kill flake and crumble. They negated an academic infraction late in Calgary on Saturday but allowed three man-advantage markers to the Flames –– the Kings’ first such faltering of the season –– as part of a stretch in which they surrendered eight power-play goals in 20 opportunities.

Not only did they lose their top position on the NHL’s penalty-kill percentage leaderboard, since March 16 they’ve ranked dead last in PK efficiency with a meager 61.9% clip across the two-week span.

Against Calgary, a sloppy and sluggish start in addition to the two power-play tallies they ceded still left the Kings in a position to steal a point or two late, until Kevin Fiala’s ill-advised roughing minor left them shorthanded once more, leading to a dagger from defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.

“Our penalty kill has been outstanding this year, that’s won us games over and over again this year, so we’re not going to lay this one on the penalty kill,” said Kings interim coach Jim Hiller, whose club did not practice on Sunday. “I’m more concerned with the penalties. We took two slashing penalties in Edmonton [Thursday], one of them led to a goal, and then the penalties (Saturday), you don’t give yourself a chance, especially when you’re trying to get your legs under you when you’re not playing well.”

Even during their nightmarish month from Dec. 28 to Jan. 28, the Kings’ penalty kill ranked third in the league, playing a significant factor in their ability to snatch up points for overtime losses during a freefall that saw them drop 14 of 16 games.

On Saturday, the PK was missing Phillip Danault (upper-body) and given the Kings’ moves Sunday to recall center Akil Thomas and place forward Alex Turcotte on long-term injured reserve, Danault would appear doubtful for Monday’s match in Winnipeg.

There, the Jets have found themselves in dire straits as they’ve spiraled downward from a three-way points tie for the Central Division lead to a distant third-place position thanks to their current six-game losing streak. They’ve been out-scored 24-9 during their funk, and lost 3-2 to the decidedly less competitive Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

In Dubois’s return to Winnipeg early in the season, he scored a goal, the Kings rolled 5-1 and the centerpiece in the deal for the Jets, Gabe Vilardi, sustained a knee injury. Vilardi would have his revenge, however, when he teamed with Mark Scheifele and Nicolaj Ehlers to illuminate the scoreboard at Crypto.com Arena in December to set up Monday’s rubber match.

Vilardi, who has battled injuries early and often in his career, missed a month recently due to an enlarged spleen, the cause of which remained a mystery even as he made his back to the ice against Ottawa.

Vilardi headed north accompanied by two other former Kings, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari. Iafallo had eight of his 24 points on the season during a four-game stretch in early November while Kupari has one point in 27 games as a Jet.

The Jets added another one-time King, Tyler Toffoli, along with his junior teammate, Sean Monahan, as the trade deadline approached. Monahan has compiled 18 points in 26 games with Winnipeg but just three during its ongoing slump. Toffoli had poured in four goals and six points in the three games prior to his production freezing completely over those half a dozen losses.