Kings Lose Late Lead in 4-3 Defeat to Canadiens

Montreal rallies with two late goals to stun Los Angeles at home.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Los Angeles Kings held a late 3-2 lead but were unable to hold on, as the Montreal Canadiens scored two goals in the final minutes to defeat the Kings 4-3 at Crypto.com Arena. Alex Laferriere had given the Kings the lead in the third period, but the Canadiens stormed back with goals from Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovský to steal the victory.

Why it matters

The loss is a tough one for the Kings, who had controlled much of the game and outshot the Canadiens 37-23. The collapse in the final minutes raises questions about the team's ability to close out tight games, especially against resilient opponents like the Canadiens who have shown a knack for comebacks this season.

The details

The Kings took a 3-2 lead in the third period on Laferriere's goal, but the Canadiens rallied late. With under six minutes to play, Montreal's Lane Hutson scored the tying goal, and then just 49 seconds later, Juraj Slafkovský netted the game-winner for the Canadiens. The Kings had several chances to extend their lead earlier in the period but were unable to capitalize.

  • The Kings took a 3-2 lead at the 6:44 mark of the third period.
  • Montreal tied the game with 5:59 remaining.
  • The Canadiens scored the game-winning goal just 49 seconds after tying it.

The players

Alex Laferriere

The Kings forward scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.

Juraj Slafkovský

The Canadiens forward scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead Montreal's comeback.

Nick Suzuki

The Canadiens center had two assists, including on the game-winning goal.

Darcy Kuemper

The Kings goaltender made 19 saves but was unable to preserve the late lead.

Jakub Dobeš

The Canadiens goaltender made 34 saves to earn the victory for Montreal.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out games like this. Giving up the lead in the final minutes is unacceptable.”

— Anže Kopitar, Kings Captain (Los Angeles Times)

“Our team showed a lot of character to come back and get the win. We never give up, no matter the score.”

— Nick Suzuki, Canadiens Center (Montreal Gazette)

What’s next

The Kings will look to bounce back quickly as they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night. The Canadiens will continue their road trip, visiting the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough one for the Kings, who had controlled the game for long stretches but were unable to hold onto their late lead. The Canadiens' resilience and ability to score quickly in the final minutes proved to be the difference, highlighting an area the Kings will need to improve upon as they push for a playoff spot.