Quinton Byfield scores in OT to boost Kings' playoff hopes

Byfield's goal in overtime lifts Los Angeles to a 7-6 win over Toronto Maple Leafs

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:11am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Quinton Byfield scored 2:33 into overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Adrian Kempe had two goals and two assists for the Kings, who moved into the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference with the win. Matthew Knies scored twice for the Maple Leafs, who rallied from a 6-4 deficit in the third period to force overtime.

Why it matters

The Kings' win over the Maple Leafs was a crucial result in the tight Western Conference playoff race. Los Angeles is now in position to clinch a postseason berth, while the loss was a missed opportunity for Toronto to gain ground in the Eastern Conference standings.

The details

Byfield's game-winning goal came off a pass from Artemi Panarin on a three-on-two rush after Nicholas Robertson missed a breakaway chance for the Maple Leafs. Kempe, Samuel Helenius, and Alex Laferriere also scored for the Kings, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit. Knies, John Tavares, Easton Cowan, Steven Lorentz, and Robertson found the back of the net for Toronto.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 6, 2026.
  • Byfield scored the game-winning goal 2:33 into overtime.

The players

Quinton Byfield

A 23-year-old center for the Los Angeles Kings who scored the overtime winner to boost his team's playoff hopes.

Adrian Kempe

A 27-year-old forward for the Los Angeles Kings who had two goals and two assists in the victory.

Matthew Knies

A 21-year-old forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs who scored two goals in the losing effort.

John Tavares

The 32-year-old captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs who scored a goal in the game.

Darcy Kuemper

The 31-year-old goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings who made 14 saves to earn the win.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for our playoff chances, so I'm glad we were able to find a way to win it in the end.”

— Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings Center

“It's a tough loss, but we showed a lot of fight to come back and force overtime. We'll need to regroup and get ready for our next game.”

— John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs Captain

What’s next

The Kings will host the Nashville Predators on Monday night, while the Maple Leafs will return home to face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This thrilling overtime victory was a huge boost to the Kings' playoff hopes, as they now hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The loss was a missed opportunity for the Maple Leafs, who will need to regroup quickly to stay in the hunt in the tight Eastern Conference race.