Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele (37) and right wing Joel Armia (40) celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators on November 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.Andrew GieslerTue, November 25, 2025 at 6:43 AM UTC·5 min readThe Los Angeles Kings beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in a slow game that saw L.A. defenseman Brandt Clarke score the game-winning goal on the power play.
"It's not always the most exciting action, back and forth," Clarke said. "Sometimes it's just grinding in the neutral zone, break out, and find a way to beat their system... We [played] a complete 60 minutes and when we do that we're hard to beat."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith just over six minutes to play in the third period, Clarke took a rocket shot from the point that went straight past the glove of Ottawa goaltender Leevi Merilainen to push the score 2-1 just as the Kings' power play was expiring.
After the game, head coach Jim Hiller talked about Clarke's game winning goal.
"They killed really well, but it only takes one good play. Sometimes it comes at the very end. Really good play on the entry, [Clarke] unloads, and here we are. Happy."
The game in general slowly moved along, with not a lot of action in the first two periods, before the three combined goals from the Kings and Senators were scored in the third period.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Senators started with numerous great scoring opportunities early, but L.A. goaltender Darcy Kuemper stood firm with a few good saves, including one off the top of his stick.
Just under three minutes into the first period, Kings center Quinton Byfield was called for a tripping penalty, sending Ottawa to the man advantage for the first time. The Kings, though, had little problem killing the first penalty of the game, with two good saves from Kuemper.
"He's been incredible. We have so much confidence when he's in the net," Clarke said. "There's some situations where it all seems like a bigger breakdown that it looks like, but just because he's so calm an makes the routine save it doesn't even get brought up."
Marilainen responded to Kuemper’s goalkeeping brilliance at the halfway point in the first period, saving a shot from winger Adrian Kempe off the pad, and then stuffing the rebound shortly after that, which almost squeaked through his pads as well, keeping the score knotted at one.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe two teams battled, but neither team scored during the first frame, and the score stayed 0-0.
During the second period, the Kings started on the penalty kill 45 seconds in after Clarke was called for holding. They easily killed the penalty and went on their own power play shortly after. The Kings only had one chance on a good shot from the point, but it was turned away by Merilainen, keeping the score at zero.
The two teams locked horns until just about seven-and-a-half left in the second period, when the Kings went on the power play once more after center Dylan Cozens was called for interference on Kempe. The Kings struggled on the power play and did not threaten.
"Five on five it is tough to get anything going on out there, for both teams. These special teams are critical ," Hiller said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith just under four minutes left in the period, the Kings would go back on the penalty kill, giving the Senators their first looks of the period.
The Senators took a good shot opportunity but were denied by Kuemper, who made a great left pad save, before sliding across to deny the second opportunity as well.
Los Angeles killed the rest of the penalty and then went on the attack for the remaining minute.
The flurry of chances started with Byfield on a breakaway, who smacked a backhanded shot off the far post, before another scramble in front of the net, which Merilainen covered, keeping the game scoreless after 40 minutes of hockey.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith no score on the board, the Kings came out firing to start the third period of hockey. With multiple shots on Merilainen, L.A. applied pressure on Ottawa, which resulted in the first score of the game.
Five minutes into the third period, defenseman Joel Edmundson fed a pass across the ice to start a three-on-two break for the Kings. Winger Joel Armia pushed ahead along the far wall before firing a pass into the crease for winger Warren Foegele for his 4th goal this year, making the score 1-0 for the home team.
Only six minutes later, though, the Senators would respond, tying the game at one apiece. Defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo took a low-angle shot from the far circle, which was shouldered away by Kuemper directly onto the tape of winger Fabian Zetterlund for his third goal of the season.
Immediately after, Cozens was called for his second penalty of the game, putting Los Angeles back on the power play for the third time of the night. The Kings had a few decent chances early, including a shot from the point by Kopitar. It would ultimately be Clarke, though, scoring the game-winning goal with 6:10 left in regulation.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKuemper finished the game with a fantastic 27 saves, while Merilainen finished with 22.
The Kings (11-6-6) are now tied for second place in the Pacific with the Kraken at 28 points, and will go to the Honda Center to face the rival Anaheim Ducks on Friday, November 28, at 1 p.m.
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