Vilardi, Kopitar provide third-period spark as Kings edge Canadiens

LOS ANGELES — In the final quarter of the NHL season, some games have a playoff feel while others give off a preseason vibe, but the Kings’ 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena featured a bit of both energies.

At the end of the night, the Kings were in a points tie for first place in the Pacific Division, but, by any account, their route to the top of the division was not a scenic one.

After plodding through much of a match with loads of stoppages, loose pucks, ticky-tack penalties and missed connections on passes, the two teams cranked up the intensity during the final 20 minutes or so.

“The whole event lacked a little bit of energy. There was two penalties right off the bat; there was 23 faceoffs, I think, in the first period; it seemed like there were six timeouts instead of three; and the ice was like being in a bunker in a golf course, it was not real good,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

Forward Gabe Vilardi led the way with a goal and a primary assist on winger Alex Iafallo’s goal before Anze Kopitar netted the game-winner. Pheonix Copley made 19 saves, and newly acquired defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov logged more than 15 minutes in his Kings debut.

“Everything was very positive. He’s a big guy who kills a lot of plays, makes good plays and has offensive capabilities as well,” said Sean Walker, Gavrikov’s defense partner. “He made it very easy on me and I was happy to be out there with him.”

Wingers Josh Anderson and Denis Gurianov scored for Montreal. Jake Allen made 30 saves to give the Canadiens a chance.

The Kings staved off a late push with confidence, thanks in part to denied zone entries, closed gaps and timely clears. They also blocked shots, including one that stung Kopitar near the final horn (he was “fine,” per McLellan, despite not appearing for his selection as the second star of the game) and some spirited play from Gavrikov, who was trusted to close out the victory.

“That’s what he’s here for. That’s what he does. To play those minutes. Heavy, shutdown minutes in and around our net, clearing the crease out, playing below the goal line, using his strength, power and good stick,” McLellan said.

Montreal had cut its deficit in half when Gurianov skated into a far-side slap shot from above the left faceoff circle with 10:21 remaining, his third goal of a season split between two teams, Dallas and Montreal.

Beginning with 12:11 to play, the Kings finally turned the corner on the visitors with two goals in 63 seconds.

Their second goal came off the forecheck. Quinton Byfield pressed below the goal line to recover the puck and then sent a centering pass through back pressure and to Kopitar in front for a goal, his 25th of 2022-23 and his ninth in his past eight games.

“It’s going in for him. He’s shooting a little bit more, but the line has found a chemistry that works for all three of them,” McLellan said.

Their first goal was another bit of mastery in tight from Vilardi. He settled a fluttering puck in traffic before he pivoted into a diving shot that he was able to roof from close range, extending his career-best season total to 20 goals.

Montreal earned a power play early in the third, during which defenseman Mikey Anderson broke his stick and Copley had to make a key save on Mike Hoffman’s one-timer.

The Kings had two sterling opportunities to take their first lead of the night during the second period. First, it was winger Arthur Kaliyev, who’d lit up Allen with a hard one-timer earlier in the same power play, failing to handle a pass that would have given him a no-doubt goal at the back post. Later, Kopitar feathered a picturesque pass across the crease for Byfield, but the chance went for naught.