Quinton Byfield scores highlight-reel goal in Kings’ 5-1 victory over Blue Jackets

LOS ANGELES — Quinton Byfield’s highlight-reel goal came at a perfect time for the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings were sluggish in their first game back on home ice after a four-game East road trip, but Byfield’s goal in the first period provided the momentum they needed as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four with a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

“I could have held a camera and filmed it. It was a beautiful goal,” said linemate Pierre-Luc Dubois, who had his second two-goal game of the season.

Byfield, the second pick in the 2020 NHL draft, had one of the highlight goals of the season at 18:22 of the first period.

Byfield got the puck off the draw between Dubois and Boone Jenner in Columbus’ offensive zone. He quickly skated up ice but appeared to not have an angle to the net until he put the puck through Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski’s legs near the left faceoff circle in Los Angeles’ offensive zone.

Byfield regained possession when he kick passed the puck to his own stick, but got off balance as Boqvist put his stick out. Byfield though still had possession despite being on one knee and put a backhand past Merzlikins’ glove for his 18th goal of the season.

“I was just kind of picking up the puck off the faceoff. I saw I had a lot of speed,” said Byfield, who has six goals and 12 points in his last 10 games. “I thought I was going to take Werenski on the outside and he tried to cut me off there. So, I just tried to take it to the middle. Saw the puck sitting there and just tried to do what I could to get the net and ended up working out.”

Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist during the last five minutes of the third period, giving him his 14th career 30-point season. That is tied with…