Game thread – Kings @ Utah Hockey Club, September 23rd

Los Angeles Kings 2, Utah Hockey Club 3
Finale (OT)
Match preview
VIDEO: NHL Network
AUDIO: ESPN LA / LA Kings App
SOG: LAK – 25 UTA – 21
PP: LAK – 1/2 UTA – 2/4

Third period
8:00 p.m. – Carter George led LA back onto the Delta Center ice for the third period! Portillo finished the game with 14 saves on 16 shots for the Kings in his 2024 preseason debut. Matt Villalta also replaced Connor Ingram in the Utah goal.
16:23 – Andre Lee had his third quality chance of the night and was able to get one step ahead of Utah's defense as he entered the attacking zone, but this time he was stopped by his former Ontario teammate Matt Villalta, who came on for the home team in the third quarter.
6:30 – In the third period, the game became tighter defensively, with chances on both sides few and far between. LA has had 5 shots so far, Utah 3.

Second period
8:00pm – Back to the action in the middle half! LA looks to bounce back after allowing two goals in the second half of the first half.
17:22 – Utah carried the momentum they built in the first period into the opening moments of the second period and had a good chance on the crease that Portillo saved. A loose rebound was also possible, but Kyle Burroughs helped keep the puck out by blocking a chance on the side of the net.
15:20 – Joel Edmundson came back and blocked a shot on a power play for Utah, denying the home team a potentially good opportunity.
13:43 – LAK Goal – A shot from Caleb Jones from the right side bounced in front of the goal and Jeff Malott quickly fired the ball into the net to give the Kings a goal and make the game 2-1. Malott had just left the penalty box after serving his five-minute penalty for the foul on Liam O'Brien in the first period.
12:55 – On the next shift after Malott's goal, Samuel Helenius had a 2-on-1 opportunity alongside linemate Andre Lee. Helenius set up Lee, who had a great look at the right side of the net, but Ingram saved it.
8:16 – Utah's Maveric Lamoureux was called for holding in his own zone, giving the Kings their first power play of the night.
7:55 – Shortly after Lamoureux's minor penalty, Ian Cole brought down Charles Hudon on a zone entry. LA goes on a 5-on-3 power play for 1:39.
6:20 – Goal for LAK – As the first of the minor penalties was about to expire, Francesco Pinelli found Alex Turcotte free in front of the net. Turcotte played with his backhand and pushed the puck past Ingram to tie the game 2-2 for LA.
5:34 – The Kings were caught in their own zone and while trying to prevent a shot on goal, Trevor Lewis was booked for hooking Artem Duda.
3:19 – Shortly after deflecting Lewis' minor foul, Brandt Clarke was charged with cross-checking. Utah returns to the power play, where they were dangerous tonight.
1:18 – By far the best penalty kill of the evening for the Kings, who kept the game tied at 2-2 until the last minute of the first half.
0:00 – The Kings turned the game around in the second period and managed to come back from a deficit and equalize with 20 minutes left in this warm-up game.

First period
8:00 p.m. – The Kings and the Utah Hockey Club are in the middle of preseason training!
18:55 – The Kings created some good chances in the opening moments. Turcotte had a look near the goal line and then Andree Lee carried the puck into a rush before firing a backhand shot on goal that Connor Ingram saved.
14:32 – Charles Hudon had the best chance of the half on the right wing, but Ingram was able to parry his wrist shot.
10:02 – Another chance for the Thomas-Turcotte-Lewis line. They spent most of their time in the attacking zone at the start.
6:36 – A nice power move by Jack Studnicka to the net created a scoring opportunity, but he continued to chase the loose puck in the crease and made contact with Ingram. The play was called for interference, giving Utah its first power play of the game.
5:30 – Portillo had to make his first brilliant save of the game, preventing Josh Doan from scoring and keeping the game scoreless.
4:56 – Goal for UTA – Utah takes a 1-0 lead. The goal was scored by Lawson Crouse, who slotted in a pass from Sean Durzi just inside the goal crease.
4:52 – Jeff Malott and Liam O'Brien took off their gloves during the face-off following the goal at the halfway line.
4:48 – Shortly after the first fight and a media timeout, Jack Studnicka and Travis Barron drop the gloves.
4:13 – Kyle Burroughs received a minor hooking penalty, giving Utah a power play for the second time in the period.
3:14 – UTA goal – A loose rebound in the goal area was cleared by Alex Kerfoot and directed into the empty net. Utah has 2/2 on the power play and is now two goals ahead.
0:00 – Utah takes a 2-0 lead into the first intermission after scoring six consecutive shots on goal in the final nine minutes of the period.

Game day in Salt Lake City! Tonight's game can be watched live on the NHL Network and heard on ESPN LA, the team's new audio home for all games this season. The NHLN feed will showcase Utah's talent and focus primarily on the league's newest club. Josh Schaefer and Daryl Evans will provide commentary for the Kings on ESPN LA live from the Delta Center.

Today’s Kings lineup –

Thomas – Turcotte – Lewis
Malott – Pinelli – Fagemo
Lee – Helenius – Ward
Green Tree – Studnicka – Hudon

Edmundson – Clarke
Moving – Burroughs
England – Jones

Portillo
George