Jets Fall to Kings for First Road Loss of Season
Adrian Kempe scored his 200th NHL goal, while Drew Doughty set a new Los Angeles Kings record for most goals by a defenseman as the team shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3–0 on Tuesday night.
Darcy Kuemper recorded 23 saves, and Kevin Fiala added a late power-play goal, securing the Kings’ first home victory of the season after six attempts. Connor Hellebuyck also made 23 saves for the Jets, who suffered their first road defeat after winning their initial four away games.
Key Moments
- Kempe struck late in the first period, netting his sixth goal of the season by finishing Joel Armia’s centering pass from behind the net.
- The goal made Kempe the ninth player from the 2014 NHL Draft class to reach 200 career goals, doing so in 644 games.
- Doughty surpassed franchise legend Rob Blake with his 162nd goal in 1,221 games, scoring an empty-netter with 54 seconds left.
Strategic Adjustments
The Kings adjusted their lineup by placing Joel Armia on the top line and reuniting Mikey Anderson with longtime partner Drew Doughty on defense, moves that paid off immediately. Both Armia and Anderson assisted on Kempe’s opening goal.
Milestone Moment
Forward Corey Perry marked his 1,400th career game, becoming the 44th NHL player to achieve the milestone. He joined active veterans Brent Burns (1,511 games), Alex Ovechkin (1,503), and Anze Kopitar (1,464) in this elite group.
“Kempe’s milestone and Doughty’s record highlighted a strong team effort that finally translated into a home win for Los Angeles.”
Author’s summary: The Kings ended their home drought with a commanding 3–0 victory, fueled by historic moments from Kempe, Doughty, and Perry’s career milestone.