ocregister.com / .ocregister-com-sports-nhl-los-angeles-kings / Page 2

Darcy Kuemper makes 34 saves, but the Kings drop a 2-1 decision, held to two goals or fewer for the seventh time in nine games. They have lost six of their past eight.

'If we keep doing the right things the puck's going to start going in for us more,' Adrian Kempe said after Tuesday's loss, the Kings' fifth in seven games.

Washington hands the Kings their fifth loss in the past seven games, 3-1, as Alex Ovechkin and Anže Kopitar both contribute in what is likely their final meeting.

The Kings swap centers and former second-round draft picks with St. Louis while giving another center, Samuel Helenius, a two-year contract extension.

The Kings face the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin on Tuesday night.

Kempe scores in overtime to help the Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Saturday night, extending their points streak to five games.

Of the Kings' 24 games this season, 19 have been decided either by one goal (17 instances) or a goal plus an empty-netter. Coming off a shootout loss Friday, they host Vancouver on Saturday night.

Friday afternoon's duel at Honda Center was a battle for first place in the Pacific Division, and that bodes well for hockey in SoCal.

The Ducks erase a two-goal third-period deficit and extend the game on Leo Carlsson's goal with 1:31 left, then McTavish dekes Darcy Kuemper in the shootout to secure a 5-4 Black Friday win.

Strong starts for both clubs restore some bite to a series that once helped define the Pacific Division race.