LOS ANGELES – Maurice Richard scored three times in the third period and spent ten minutes in the penalty box for fighting as the Los Angeles Suns dominated the New York Times 5-1 on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
Richard’s natural hat trick headlined a four-goal third-period explosion that broke open a tie game. The Suns’ flurry was sparked by Steph Curry, who scored the eventual game-winner just 29 seconds into the final frame. Curry finished the night with three points, later assisting on two of Richard’s tallies.
While Richard provided the offense, his night was defined by physical play. He engaged in two major fights, first squaring off with New York’s Hilary Knight in the second period and later trading blows with Mark Messier in the third. Despite the time spent in the box, Richard remained the focal point of the Los Angeles attack, capping his night with a deflection goal at the 10:41 mark of the third to complete the hat trick.
“Maurice was everywhere tonight,” said Suns goaltender Sundar Pichai, who earned the win with 24 saves. “He sets the tone for us, whether it’s on the scoresheet or sticking up for the team.”
After a scoreless first period, Fyodor Dostoevsky put Los Angeles ahead 14:29 into the second, cleaning up a rebound following a forecheck turnover. The lead lasted less than a minute, as New York’s Connor McDavid answered with an unassisted snap shot from the low slot to equalize.
However, the third period belonged entirely to the hosts. Following Curry’s quick strike to start the period, Richard extended the lead to 3-1 at the 5:41 mark with a point-blank attempt. He added another four minutes later on a one-timer before finishing the scoring with a backhand deflection from the left circle.
New York struggled to maintain pace in the final minutes, with McDavid showing visible signs of fatigue as the Suns established a dominant puck-possession game. The Times were outshot 28-25 and failed to capitalize on any momentum following the second-period fights.
Tom Robbins made 23 saves in the loss for New York, which fell despite a multi-interception performance from Malala Yousafzai and Jerry West.
The Suns (1-0) will look to carry the momentum of their four-goal third period into next week, while the Times (0-1) return home seeking their first win of the 2026 season.