Blue Jackets Power Past Kings with Special Teams Surge: Key Stats, Turning Points, and Player Insights

Blue Jackets Leverage Power Play to Defeat Kings: All the Highlights and Analysis

On Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets stunned the LA Kings 3-1, riding a wave of special teams success that the home squad simply couldn’t match. The story of the evening was written on the power play—Columbus scored all three of their goals with a man advantage, exploiting the Kings’ penalty troubles and defensive lapses at critical moments. For the Kings, who hoped to build momentum after Thursday’s win over Tampa Bay, the result was a harsh reminder of their recent struggles, especially at home.

How the Game Unfolded: Key Moments and Turning Points

The tone was set early. Columbus opened the scoring just four minutes in on the game’s first power play, with Mason Marchment finding space in the slot and slipping a quick shot past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg for his sixth goal of the season. The Kings had their own chances—two shorthanded 2-on-1 rushes—but failed to convert, and the momentum swung firmly toward the visitors.

Inside the last minute of the first period, Marchment struck again, deflecting a point shot from Damon Severson off his shoulder and in, doubling Columbus’s lead. The Kings entered the first intermission facing a two-goal deficit, and the home crowd was restless.

Late in the second period, Los Angeles finally broke through. After a sustained shift in the offensive zone, Andrei Kuzmenko fired from distance, with Trevor Moore screening Blue Jackets netminder Jet Greaves. Kuzmenko’s goal brought the Kings within one, injecting a flicker of hope as the teams headed into the final frame.

But that hope was short-lived. In the third period, Kirill Marchenko iced the game for Columbus with their third power-play goal—a dagger that sealed the result and highlighted the Kings’ inability to keep themselves out of the penalty box.

Player Voices: Frustration, Accountability, and What’s Next

Postgame reactions from Kings players and coach Jim Hiller revealed a mix of disappointment and resolve. Forward Quinton Byfield acknowledged the frustration of failing to deliver for the home fans, pointing to special teams as a key issue: “We’re not scoring goals. Special teams is kind of killing us right now. We’ve got to figure that out soon.” Byfield also stressed the mental toll of repeated penalties, noting, “It gets tiring for killers. It’s just it seems like every game we’re taking way more minors than the other team.”

Defenseman Joel Edmundson echoed the sentiment, attributing the night’s woes to poor decision-making and unnecessary penalties. Coach Hiller was candid: “Decisions on the penalties, first, unacceptable. The effort, I never question the effort of our team. But when you take seven penalties, it makes it pretty hard for the other guys.” The rhythm of the game was disrupted, with penalty killers worn out and offensive players sitting on the bench, unable to generate sustained pressure.

Despite the loss, Hiller remained positive about the team’s overall effort but admitted, “We really didn’t give ourselves a fair chance.” He also addressed lineup decisions and the need to get more out of depth players like Samuel Helenius, who saw limited ice time as the Kings chased offense late.

Stats, Milestones, and Injury Updates

• Mason Marchment scored twice for Columbus, continuing a strong run since being acquired from Seattle.
• Andrei Kuzmenko reached his sixth goal of the season and his 10th point, becoming the third Russian-born forward to record multiple 10-point seasons with the Kings.
• Drew Doughty picked up his ninth assist of the season, tying Victor Hedman for ninth-most points by a defenseman against Columbus in NHL history.
• Mikey Anderson tallied his sixth assist, tying for fifth-most points among defensemen from the 2017 NHL Draft.
• Trevor Moore marked his 200th home game for the Kings, the eighth undrafted player to reach that milestone in franchise history.
• Anze Kopitar played his 1,485th regular season game, now 28th all-time in NHL history.
• Columbus was without Zach Werenski (lower body injury) and several other regulars, but the team compensated with disciplined play and opportunistic scoring.
• Jet Greaves got the start in net for Columbus, delivering a poised performance.

Context: Season Trends and Team Trajectories

The Kings, despite recent postseason appearances, have been plagued by scoring droughts and special teams inconsistencies. Their power play ranks 30th in the league at just 14.6%, and their penalty kill sits in the middle of the pack. In contrast, Columbus, though struggling in the standings and missing key players, managed to exploit the Kings’ weaknesses, especially in drawing and converting on penalties.

For the Blue Jackets, the victory is a bright spot before the holiday break, breaking a streak of poor results in Los Angeles and providing momentum heading into the new year. For the Kings, the loss raises questions about discipline, scoring depth, and the ability to defend home ice—a theme that has haunted them throughout the season.

Looking Ahead: What Does This Mean for Both Teams?

Both squads have plenty to address after this matchup. For Columbus, the ability to capitalize on special teams and find contributions from new faces like Marchment and Greaves bodes well. For Los Angeles, the challenge remains clear: reduce penalties, find scoring outside their top line, and regain confidence at home.

The Kings next face the Seattle Kraken, hoping to regroup before the NHL’s holiday break. For the Blue Jackets, the win is a reminder of their potential, even in a season marked by injuries and adversity.

This game was a microcosm of each team’s season so far: the Blue Jackets, opportunistic and unified despite adversity, and the Kings, talented but undermined by discipline and execution. If Los Angeles can’t solve their penalty issues, their playoff hopes may hinge not on skill, but on self-control.

Sources: LA Kings Insider, NHL.com, Sports Yahoo