Luke Evangelista ends the penalties in the eighth round, the Predators tighten the playoff race with a 5-4 win over the Kings

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Evangelista scored the only goal of the eighth-round shootout, and the Nashville Predators strengthened their bid to make the Western Conference playoffs with a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Nashville, Los Angeles and San Jose are now tied with 79 points each for second place in the wild-card playoffs in the West, but the Sharks – who beat Toronto 4-1 last Thursday – have a game in hand.

Announcement

Steven Stamkos scored his 37th goal and Jonathan Marchessault ended his 14-game drought for the Preds, who snapped a three-game skid despite a three-goal lead. Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux also scored.

Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots before turning in a perfect eight-round shootout for Nashville.

All of the top 15 skaters in the shootout failed to score before Evangelista finished with a deke and a backhand for his first shootout goal of the season.

Adrian Kempe scored two goals and Joel Armia tied it midway through the third period for the Kings, who have lost six of eight with their season on the line.

Announcement

Scott Laughton also scored and Darcy Kuemper rebounded from a rough start by making 31 saves before a strong shootout.

Before the game, the Kings honored retired captain Anze Kopitar with a ceremony recognizing his 20-year career. The Slovenian center set the team’s career goals record last month.

Forsberg then scored his 35th goal for Nashville in the first minute with a stoppable shot, and L’Heureux scored moments later when Kuemper was caught outside his crease.

Kuemper also gave Nashville a penalty late in the first by throwing his stick at the puck, but Ryan O’Reilly was unable to convert. Marchessault scored his 12th goal – his first in exactly a month – early in the second.

Announcement

Kempe finally got the Kings going when Artemi Panarin’s 51st assist deflected off his skate, but Stamkos scored just over two minutes later. After Kempe scored again to secure the fourth 30-goal season of his career, Laughton scored moments later on a rebound.

Armia finally tied it when he scored into the net and used Jared Wright’s rebound for his 11th goal.

Next

Predators: At San Jose Saturday night.

Kings: Host Toronto on Saturday.

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