Los Angeles Kings delivered a powerful performance on March 9, 2024, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0 at Crypto.com Arena. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Kings, who had struggled at home, winning only three of their previous twelve games this season. The six-goal outburst was their second of the 2025-26 campaign, showcasing their offensive capabilities in what became their most convincing win to date.
The Kings’ scoring prowess was highlighted by Andrei Kuzmenko, who scored his first goal since November 1, ending a dry spell for the team on the power play. They had struggled with special teams, scoring only once in their last 65 attempts before this match. Brandt Clarke stood out with two goals, while Mikey Anderson, Drew Doughty, and Alex Turcotte also contributed with points. Darcy Kuemper was impressive in goal, earning his second shutout of the year with 23 saves.
The Kings flipped the narrative after facing the Blackhawks just two nights earlier, where they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat. In the first period of this matchup, the Kings were outshot 11-7, with Kuemper making several critical stops, including a challenging save against Ryan Donato during a two-on-one break.
In the second period, the Kings significantly changed the game’s momentum, scoring three goals while denying the Blackhawks any scoring opportunities. They struck first at the 1:55 mark when Warren Foegele capitalized on a turnover, scoring with a one-timer from the right circle. This was followed by Kuzmenko’s power play goal, where he drove to the net and scored after a faceoff win.
Clarke’s first goal came through persistence after his initial shot was blocked. He managed to recover the puck and scored with a wrist shot despite pressure from Blackhawks’ players. Clarke further solidified the Kings’ lead early in the third period with another goal just 4:46 in, bringing his tally to five for the season.
The Kings continued to capitalize on defensive lapses from the Blackhawks. Mikey Anderson scored his second goal of the season shortly after Clarke’s, while Turcotte made his mark by netting his first home goal of his career. With 10:26 remaining, Turcotte crashed the net and scored, completing the Kings’ offensive display.
This commanding victory not only served as a morale booster for the Kings but also illustrated their potential moving forward in the season. The team will look to build on this performance as they seek consistency and aim for a stronger finish in the 2025-26 campaign.
