Adrian Kempe Lifts Kings Past Flyers 3 to 2 in Overtime as Road Trip Continues

PHILADELPHIA -- Adrian Kempe delivered a decisive performance Saturday night, scoring twice in regulation and setting up the overtime winner as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3 to 2 in a tightly contested nonconference matchup.

The breaking update came early when Kempe struck twice in the opening period, scoring two goals in a span of 3 minutes and 38 seconds to give Los Angeles a 2 to 0 advantage. The Kings controlled the tempo in the first period and appeared to extend the lead further when Andrei Kuzmenko found the net, but Philadelphia successfully challenged the play for offside and the goal was overturned after review.

Philadelphia responded with a rally that reflected its urgency amid a difficult stretch. Trevor Zegras scored to cut into the deficit, and Travis Konecny tied the game later, sending it to overtime. Konecny continued a productive run, recording a point for the seventh time in his last eight games and scoring in three straight contests.

The latest timeline swung back in favor of Los Angeles in overtime. Kempe carried the puck into the zone and found Quinton Byfield in the right circle, where the center snapped home his 10th goal of the season to end the game. Byfield’s continued offensive growth remains a key factor in the Kings’ outlook as the season progresses.

Philadelphia had a chance to close it out earlier in overtime when Konecny broke in alone, but his shot rang off the crossbar. Darcy Kuemper finished with 19 saves for Los Angeles, while Dan Vladar stopped 18 shots for the Flyers, who have now dropped 11 of their last 13 games and four straight overall.

What this means for Los Angeles extends beyond the result. Captain Anze Kopitar returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a lower body injury, providing stability down the middle. Kopitar sits one point shy of 1,300 for his career, a milestone reached by only 38 players in NHL history. His health and availability remain critical to the Kings’ playoff positioning in a competitive Western Conference.

For Philadelphia, the impact is more concerning. The Flyers continue to search for consistency as injuries and lineup adjustments test their depth. Despite improved effort and late game push, the loss underscores ongoing challenges as the schedule tightens.

The next steps come quickly. The Kings wrap up their five game road trip Sunday at Carolina, while the Flyers return home to host Washington on Tuesday as they look to halt their slide.