Blackhawks vs. Kings: Wyatt Kaiser's Third-Period Winner Snaps Chicago's Three-Game Skid

Wyatt Kaiser does not score much, which is exactly why this one will stick. Midway through the third period at United Center, the Chicago defenseman settled into the left circle and threaded a shot through Anton Forsberg's legs. It was his first goal of the season and only the 11th of his career, in his 187th game, and it was the only one Chicago needed the rest of the way.

That five-hole finish lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, ending a three-game losing streak and closing a long homestand on a happier note than it was trending toward. Spencer Knight made 25 saves, rookie Roman Kantserov scored on the power play, and two teams sitting on eight points apiece got a reminder of how thin the margins are at this end of the standings.

The Kings Strike, Then Stall

Los Angeles came out like a team that had just won in New York the night before, which it had. Only 2:31 in, Jared Wright's shot squeezed through Knight, and Samuel Helenius tapped in the leftovers for his first goal of the season. Andre Lee picked up the other assist on a goal that came from a trio who each played less than nine minutes.

The Kings had good reason to be pleased with the early returns. They threw their bodies around all night, outhitting Chicago 28-15, and they won 57.9 percent of the faceoffs. For most of two periods, that recipe worked. Los Angeles carried the 1-0 lead deep into the second period while Forsberg handled everything Chicago sent his way.

Then the Kings started handing out invitations. Joel Armia went to the box for tripping at 14:26, and Los Angeles killed that one. He went back for interference at 16:29, and this time Chicago needed only 11 seconds. Connor Bedard found Kantserov, the rookie snapped it home, and the game was tied at 1-1 heading into the third.

The Turning Point: Armia's Second Trip

If you are looking for the hinge of this game, it is that second Armia penalty. Chicago's power play has been a genuine problem this season. Even after Tuesday, the Blackhawks are converting at just 10.3 percent, 4-for-39 through 12 games, according to the AP. Giving that unit back-to-back chances in a span of about two minutes was like handing a struggling kicker a chip shot.

The Blackhawks also had to survive their own trouble. Defenseman Sam Rinzel took a double-minor for high-sticking, and Chicago killed off all four minutes. Los Angeles went 0-for-3 on the man advantage overall, while Chicago went 1-for-3. In a one-goal game, that is the whole ballgame.

Kaiser's winner came at 7:17 of the third, with Frank Nazar and Patrick Kane drawing the assists. From there, Knight made the lead stand up.

Knight Keeps Showing Up

Knight finished with 25 saves on 26 shots, a .962 save percentage, and his season is turning into a weekly highlight package. According to the Blackhawks, he has made at least 24 saves in all 10 of his appearances this season and now leads the NHL in total saves with 278. That workload says plenty about the team in front of him, but it says more about the goalie holding it together. He improved to 4-6-0.

Kantserov's goal was his fifth, the most on the Blackhawks, and the team said it moved him into sole possession of the NHL lead among rookies. He played 15:52 and made his one big chance count, which is all you can ask from a first-year winger in a 2-1 game.

The assists told their own story. Bedard logged 19:21 and set up the tying goal for his fourth helper of the year. Teuvo Teravainen added the secondary assist, and per the Blackhawks, he now has four assists in his last four meetings with Los Angeles at United Center and 20 points in 25 career games against the Kings. Kane's assist on the winner was his team-leading seventh, giving him eight points on the season.

On the other side, Forsberg was solid in a losing effort, stopping 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage. The Kings simply could not find a second goal. Los Angeles played this one without captain Drew Doughty and forward Corey Perry, who were both scratched after playing in Monday's 6-3 win over the New York Rangers.

Stats That Matter

• 1-for-3 vs. 0-for-3: The power plays decided a one-goal game, and Chicago's lone conversion came 11 seconds into Armia's second penalty.
• 278: Knight's total saves this season, the most in the NHL according to the Blackhawks.
• 28-15: Los Angeles' edge in hits. Physical, yes. Productive, no.
• 27-26: Chicago's razor-thin edge in shots on goal.
• 5: Kantserov's goals, tops on the team and among NHL rookies.

What It Means

Chicago moves to 4-8-0 with eight points and finishes its season-long seven-game homestand at 3-4-0. The Blackhawks are now 4-4-0 at United Center, and the team noted it was their 101st all-time win over Los Angeles. The bigger concern is the road: Chicago is 0-4-0 away from home and opens a road trip Thursday in Detroit.

The Kings fall to 3-6-2, also with eight points, and finish a five-game trip at 3-2-0. That trip was a real step forward for a team that started the season 0-4-2, with wins in Washington, at UBS Arena against the Islanders and at Madison Square Garden. Los Angeles is still 0-3-0 at home, and the Ottawa Senators visit on Thursday.

Groundhog Day at the United Center

Knight's October has been hockey's version of Groundhog Day: wake up, face a barrage, make two dozen saves, repeat. Tuesday was the rare night when the loop finally paid off with a win, and it took a defenseman who rarely scores to break it. Chicago will take that script every night, but it would love a few more chapters with a working power play.

Stats from the official box score via ESPN. Game details from the Associated Press; team notes as reported by the Chicago Blackhawks on nhl.com.