Quinton Byfield scores in OT to boost Kings' playoff hopes with a 7-6 win over Maple Leafs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quinton Byfield scored 2:33 into overtime, Adrian Kempe had two goals and two assists, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-6 on Saturday night.

Byfield finished off Artemi Panarin’s pass for his second goal of the game, securing a crucial win for the Kings, who set an NHL single-season record by playing their 31st game past regulation.

William Nylander missed his shot on a breakaway, leading to a three-on-two rush the other way where Byfield netted his 20th goal of the season.

With the win, Los Angeles moved into the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Panarin, Samuel Helenius and Alex Laferriere also scored for the Kings, and Darcy Kuemper made 14 saves.

Matthew Knies had two goals, and John Tavares, Easton Cowan, Steven Lorentz and Nicholas Robertson also scored for the Maple Leafs. Joseph Woll made 33 saves.

The Kings came into the game stressing a good start, having been outscored 5-1 in the first period of their previous three outings, and instead face planted to spot the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.

Los Angeles bounced back in the second period with three goals and tied the game twice, only for Cowan to capitalize on the power play with 12.5 seconds remaining to put Toronto back up 4-3 after two.

Kempe, Helenius and Laferriere all scored in the third period in a span of 1:36 to give the Kings a 6-4 lead, but Robertson and Knies responded to send Los Angeles into extra hockey yet again.

The Kings have already set an NHL record with 19 losses in overtime or a shootout.

Maple Leafs: Host Washington on Wednesday night.

Kings: Host Nashville on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz, left, scores on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin, left, celebrates after scoring on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi, left, smiles as Los Angeles Kings center Samuel Helenius after they scuffled during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings center Samuel Helenius, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit, second from left, scuffle as right wing Alex Laferriere, second from right, and center Bo Groulx also scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, top, celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll lays on the ice during overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz, left, scores on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin, left, celebrates after scoring on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi, left, smiles as Los Angeles Kings center Samuel Helenius after they scuffled during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings center Samuel Helenius, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit, second from left, scuffle as right wing Alex Laferriere, second from right, and center Bo Groulx also scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, top, celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll lays on the ice during overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Patrick Roy was fired as coach of the New York Islanders on Sunday, another late-season change in the NHL that comes with a team in the middle of a spring tailspin that has put their playoff chances in jeopardy.

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the abrupt decision to part ways with Roy and name Peter DeBoer his replacement with four games left in the season. The Islanders have lost four in a row and seven of their past 10 games, going from comfortably in a playoff spot to needing help down the stretch in a competitive Eastern Conference race.

Roy is the second NHL coach fired over the past eight days. The Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy and hired John Tortorella on an interim basis a week ago.

DeBoer is taking the job full-time, fresh off serving as an assistant on Canada's staff at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 57-year-old has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup Final and most recently coached the Dallas Stars to three consecutive trips to the Western Conference final before being fired last year following their latest exit.

Roy, a Hall of Fame goaltender, was hired by former GM Lou Lamoriello in January 2024 as a midseason replacement for fired coach Lane Lambert. Sparked by his arrival, the team made the playoffs that year and lost in the first round to Carolina. Regression has followed since.

Parting ways with Roy comes at crucial point for the organization. Rookie of the year front-runner Matthew Schaefer has been a revelation in his first NHL season at the age of 18, and several other top prospects are on their way.

Roy was in his second job running a team in the league, following a three-year tenure with Colorado from 2013-16 that included winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year and abruptly resigning in the middle of the summer.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

FILE - New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy speaks to members of the media before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File)