Sabres Dominate Kings 4-1 with Standouts Kempe, Ceci, and Hiller

Emerson Raymont

Published: January 30, 2026 6:53 AM ET

Sabres Dominate Kings 4-1 with Standouts Kempe, Ceci, and Hiller

The LA Kings’ three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on January 27, 2023, with a 4-1 loss against the Buffalo Sabres. The game took place at the KeyBank Center, marking a challenging night for the Kings.

Game Highlights

The Buffalo Sabres initiated the scoring during their first power play of the match. Alex Tuch, showing remarkable skill, received a pass that deflected off Kings defenseman Cody Ceci and slipped between the legs of goaltender Darcy Kuemper. This marked Tuch’s 20th goal of the season, giving Buffalo an early 1-0 lead.

Later in the first period, the Sabres extended their lead to 2-0. After winning a faceoff, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored with a powerful one-timer that deflected off Kuemper, increasing the deficit for the Kings.

Controversial Moments

During the game, a goal by the Kings was disallowed under controversial circumstances. This decision proved pivotal as shortly after, Tuch netted his second goal, taking Buffalo’s lead to 3-0. With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, the Kings took a delay of game penalty but managed to kill it off. However, Alex Tuch completed his hat trick, solidifying the Sabres’ 4-1 victory.

Player Standouts

Adrian Kempe: Scored the Kings’ only goal, his 18th of the season, and increased his point streak to five games.
Cody Ceci: Involved in the unfortunate deflection that led to the Sabres’ first goal.
Jim Hiller: Kings’ head coach, expressed frustration with the game’s turning points and the team’s need to avoid early deficits.

Statistical Achievements

Aside from the game’s outcome, several individual performances stood out:

Kempe’s goal ties him with Kevin Fiala for the most goals on the team this season.
Fiala registered his 20th assist, continuing a streak of nine consecutive seasons with similar achievements.
Defenseman Brandt Clarke notched his 20th assist, becoming one of the few defensemen to achieve multiple 20-assist seasons before turning 23.
Corey Perry played in his 1,433rd NHL game, surpassing Mike Gartner for sole possession of 34th in all-time regular season games.

Upcoming Schedule

Following this challenging defeat, the Kings will have a day off before preparing to face the Philadelphia Flyers on January 31, 2023. The game is set to begin at 9:30 AM Pacific time.

This recent matchup highlighted both the competitive nature of the NHL and the unpredictability of outcomes, emphasizing the need for the Kings to regroup as they head into their next game.