Kopitar scores twice in third, Kings fight back for 5-4 win over Flyers
Kopitar scores twice in third, Kings fight back for 5-4 win over Flyers
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar reacts after missing a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton, right, celebrates with right wing Matvei Michkov (39) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Travis Konecny (11) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence (21) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) celebrates with his team after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) collide near the Kings’ goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) and Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele shoots the puck and scores during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) looks to shoot the puck while Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) looks to pass the puck while under pressure from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar reacts after missing a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar reacts after missing a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton, right, celebrates with right wing Matvei Michkov (39) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton, right, celebrates with right wing Matvei Michkov (39) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Travis Konecny (11) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence (21) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Travis Konecny (11) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence (21) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) celebrates with his team after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) celebrates with his team after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) collide near the Kings’ goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) collide near the Kings’ goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) and Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) and Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele shoots the puck and scores during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele shoots the puck and scores during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) looks to shoot the puck while Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) looks to shoot the puck while Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) looks to pass the puck while under pressure from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) looks to pass the puck while under pressure from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anze Kopitar scored twice, Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist, and the Los Angeles Kings got their seventh straight home win by beating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 on Sunday night.
Kevin Fiala and Warren Foegele also scored for the Kings, who trailed 4-2 midway through the second period before rebounding to sweep a back-to-back after defeating recent playoff nemesis Edmonton in overtime on Saturday. David Rittich made 17 saves.
Kopitar was in the right place to redirect Quinton Byfield’s rebound in and tie it at 4 early in the third, before following it up by chopping in Kempe’s shot during a power play at 8:55 for the 5-4 lead.
Matvei Michkov had a goal and an assist for the Flyers after being benched for the third period against Anaheim on Saturday. Tyson Foerster, Scott Laughton and Joel Farabee also scored, and Aleksei Kolosov made 15 saves.
Takeaways
Flyers: Michkov responded well after some tough coaching from John Tortorella, ending a seven-game point drought.
Kings: Kopitar is 19 seasons into his Kings career but shows no signs of slowing down. He is up to 12 goals and 27 assists through 36 games.
Key moment
Foegele showed good composure in following up his rebound on a breakaway with 4:56 left in the second, getting the Kings back within 4-3 and setting the stage for Kopitar’s final-period heroics.
Key stat
Los Angeles is a resilient bunch, improving to 8-7-1 when allowing the first goal.
Up Next
The Flyers visit San Jose on Tuesday, and the Kings host New Jersey on Wednesday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl