Jets Fall to Kings for First Road Loss of Season
Adrian Kempe scored his 200th NHL career goal, and Drew Doughty set a new Los Angeles Kings record for goals by a defenseman as the Kings defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Key Performances
- Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves, securing the Kings' first home win of the season after six games.
- Kevin Fiala added a late power-play goal to seal the victory.
- Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 shots for the Jets, who suffered their first road loss in five attempts.
Scoring Highlights
Kempe scored late in the first period, his sixth goal of the season, by attacking the crease and finishing Joel Armia’s centering pass from the trapezoid. This milestone makes Kempe the ninth player from the 2014 draft class to reach 200 goals in 644 games.
Doughty broke the franchise record previously held by Rob Blake when he scored an empty-net goal with 54 seconds remaining, marking his 162nd goal in 1,221 games.
Team Changes and Milestones
The Kings made tactical adjustments by moving Armia to the top line and pairing Mikey Anderson with Doughty on the first defensive pair. These moves paid off immediately as both Armia and Anderson assisted on Kempe’s goal.
Forward Corey Perry celebrated his 1,400th career game, becoming the 44th player in NHL history to reach this milestone. He joined active players Brent Burns (1,511 games), Alex Ovechkin (1,503 games), and Anze Kopitar (1,464 games) in this elite group.
"Kempe is the ninth member of the 2014 draft class to reach 200 goals, getting there in 644 games."
"Doughty passed franchise stalwart Rob Blake with his 162nd goal in 1,221 games."
"Corey Perry played in his 1,400th career game, becoming the 44th player in NHL history to do so."
Author’s summary: Adrian Kempe reached 200 career goals, Drew Doughty set a defensive scoring record, and the Kings earned a crucial 3-0 home win over the Jets, who lost their first road game this season.