Jets Fall to Kings for First Road Loss of Season
Adrian Kempe scored his 200th NHL career goal, while Drew Doughty set a new Los Angeles Kings record for goals by a defenseman as the Kings shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 shots, and Kevin Fiala added a late power-play goal, securing the Kings' first home win of the season after six games. Connor Hellebuyck also made 23 saves for the Jets, who suffered their first road loss in five attempts.
Key Moments and Milestones
- Kempe scored late in the first period, marking his sixth goal of the season by capitalizing on Joel Armia’s centering pass. This goal made Kempe the ninth player from the 2014 draft class to reach 200 career goals, doing so in 644 games.
- Doughty surpassed franchise legend Rob Blake by scoring his 162nd goal in 1,221 games with an empty-net goal with 54 seconds remaining.
- The Kings adjusted their lineup, moving Armia to the top line and pairing Mikey Anderson again with Doughty on the first defensive pair. Armia and Anderson assisted on Kempe’s goal, showing immediate impact from the changes.
- Corey Perry played his 1,400th NHL game, becoming the 44th player in league history to reach this milestone, joining active players Brent Burns (1,511), Alex Ovechkin (1,503), and Anze Kopitar (1,464).
"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."
These notable achievements combined with strategic lineup changes helped the Kings claim a decisive victory over the Jets and mark key personal milestones for their players.
Author's summary: The Kings earned a 3-0 victory over the Jets, highlighted by Kempe's 200th goal, Doughty's franchise record, and Perry’s 1,400th game milestone, signaling key team and personal successes this season.