Trevor Moore’s hat trick propels Kings past Kraken to end 3-game skid
The Kings take control when Moore scores twice in just over four minutes of the second period of a 5-2 win. He secures his second career three-goal game on a slick breakaway with 3:03 left.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.”
