LOS ANGELES (AP) — Connor Bedard scored for the third straight games, Spencer Knight made 26 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Thursday night to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again Saturday night in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, makes a glove save as Chicago Blackhawks center Colton Dach, left, watches and right wing Alex Laferrierek trips during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, tries to tip a shot past Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andre Burakovsky, center, tries to get a shot past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault, right, tries to get a shot in as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, left, and goaltender Spencer Knight defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar, center, tries to score on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson falls during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Wyatt Kaiser had his first goal of the season to help Chicago win for the second time in three games after losing five in a row. Frank Nazar had two assists.
Trevor Moore scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for Los Angeles. The Kings were held to two goals or fewer for the seventh time in nine games.
The Blackhawks scored twice in the second period. Bedard got his fifth power-play goal to open the scoring, attacking the crease and putting in Nazar’s centering pass. Bedard has four goals and two assists in the last three games.
Kaiser made it 2-0 with 5.1 seconds left after the Kings nearly scored when the puck got tangled up at Knight’s feet and Phillip Danault couldn’t convert a wraparound into the open net.
The Kings welcomed top defenseman Drew Doughty back after he missed seven games because of a foot injury. Doughty was injured blocking a shot against Ottawa on Nov. 15.
Kings forward Warren Foegele also returned from a three-game absence due to an upper-body injury. He found Moore for a one-timer midway through the third, but it wasn’t enough to help Los Angeles avoid its sixth loss in eight games.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, makes a glove save as Chicago Blackhawks center Colton Dach, left, watches and right wing Alex Laferrierek trips during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, tries to tip a shot past Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andre Burakovsky, center, tries to get a shot past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault, right, tries to get a shot in as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, left, and goaltender Spencer Knight defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar, center, tries to score on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson falls during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs and a defense that suddenly generated pressure and turnovers helped the Detroit Lions stay in contention for a playoff berth.
Gibbs ran for three touchdowns, including a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed the Lions' much-needed 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.
The Lions sacked Dak Prescott five times — a week after they had no sacks and lost to Green Bay — and had two interceptions and recovered a fumble.
“You could see an uptick in urgency from everybody,” Jared Goff said.
The Lions (8-5) avoided losing consecutive games for the first time in more than three years. They remain outside the playoff picture with four games left, but they improved their odds considerably.
“They don’t get panicked,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “We played our best game that we played all year.”
Detroit’s playoff probability is now 54% and Dallas’ fell to 7%, according to the NFL.
The Cowboys (6-6-1) had surged into postseason contention with a three-game winning streak. But against the Lions, the NFL’s top-ranked offense had to lean on powerful kicker Brandon Aubrey too much and Dallas' revitalized defense was humbled.
“It seemed like every time we got some momentum, they hit another explosive play,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “They have a lot of speed, and they can make big plays.”
Goff went 25 of 34 for 309 yards with a 12-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa that put Detroit ahead 27-9.
Dallas pulled within three points twice in the fourth quarter, including with 3:42 left when Aubrey matched a career high with his fifth field goal.
Tom Kennedy returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield and Goff threw a 37-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown to set up Gibbs' third score.
Gibbs had seven catches for 77 yards and 43 yards rushing on 12 carries.
“He’s unique,” Campbell said. “He’s special.”
Williams had seven catches for the second straight game and finished with 96 yards. St. Brown, who had been listed as questionable with an ankle injury, left no doubt of his value with six catches for 92 yards and a lot of key blocks for teammates.
“He was going and nobody was going to talk him out of it,” Campbell said.
Detroit's Al-Quadin Muhammad had a career-high three sacks and Jack Campbell had a sack and forced a fumble for a team that hadn't been generating much pressure on quarterbacks.
Prescott wished that trend continued.
He was sacked five times and pressured many more times as he was 31 of 47 for 376 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He lost his top target in the third quarter when CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion after he had six catches for 121 yards.
George Pickens didn't pick up the slack, catching just five of the nine passes thrown his way for 37 yards.
Dallas settled for too many field goals from its extraordinary kicker.
The 30-year-old Aubrey converted from 63, 57, 55, 42 and 29 yards, becoming the first in NFL history to make three field goals or 55 yards or more in a game, according to Sportradar.
“These guys aren’t deflated right now, they are (ticked) off,” Prescott said. “We just need to use that the right way — as fuel for the rest of the season.”
Cowboys: Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, CB Trevon Diggs and LT Tyler Guyton were inactive.
Lions: S Brian Branch suffered an ankle injury late in the game. S Thomas Harper, filling in for injured All-Pro Kerby, left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. TE Brock Wright was put on injured reserve earlier in the day and WR/PR Kalif Raymond and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.
Cowboys: Host Minnesota in prime time on Dec. 14.
Lions: Visit Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 14.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) attempts a catch in front of Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) is stopped short of the goal line by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, not visible, during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs for a touchdown while Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (34) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs the ball as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jr. Kenneth Murray (59) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
