Kraken’s losing streak reaches 9 after loss to Kings

Published 1:30 am Saturday, January 15, 2022

Los Angeles Kings center Adrian Kempe, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates Alex Iafallo (19), Anze Kopitar, center and Matt Roy (3) as Seattle Kraken right wing Joonas Donskoi (72) and Seattle Kraken center Calle Jarnkrok (19) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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Los Angeles Kings center Adrian Kempe, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates Alex Iafallo (19), Anze Kopitar, center and Matt Roy (3) as Seattle Kraken right wing Joonas Donskoi (72) and Seattle Kraken center Calle Jarnkrok (19) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Los Angeles Kings center Adrian Kempe, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates Alex Iafallo (19), Anze Kopitar, center, and Matt Roy (3) as Seattle Kraken right wing Joonas Donskoi (72) and center Calle Jarnkrok (19) react during the first period of a game, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

By Tim Booth / Associated Press

SEATTLE — Adrian Kempe scored his 17th goal of the season early in the first period, Phillip Danault scored twice and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 3-1 Saturday night for their fourth straight win.

Los Angeles won for the sixth time in its past seven, jumping to a 2-0 lead while clamping down on defense.

Seattle lost its ninth straight and has dropped 12 of 13. Marcus Johansson scored on a power play in the second period, but the Kraken were limited to 18 shots on goal against Cal Petersen.

Chris Dreidger made 19 saves but lost his second straight start. Dreidger started Thursday’s 2-1 loss in St. Louis.

Danault scored his eighth goal 4:10 into the second period and added an empty-netter in the last minute.

Kempe grabbed the rebound of Alex Iafallo’s shot 4:06 into the game, maneuvered around Dreidger and scored. He’s reached a career high in goals 38 games into the season after scoring 16 goals in 81 games in 2017-18. The 25-year-old has four goals in the past six games.

Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead when Danault chopped a rebound past Dreidger. Mikey Anderson had the initial shot out of midair that Dreidger saved, but Danault was able to get his stick on the rebound.

Seattle answered on the power play after Matt Roy was called for a double minor for high sticking. Johansson was stopped on a breakaway earlier in the period, but he scored his fourth of the season and third on the power play to pull Seattle within 2-1. Mark Giordano’s shot from the point was tipped by Calle Jarnkrok, and Johansson finished off the goal.

The Kraken briefly thought they had pulled even late in the second period when Ryan Donato’s shot appeared to beat Andersen, momentarily setting off the ferry horn siren. video review showed the shot clipped Andersen’s shoulder and the crossbar but stayed out.