NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Darcy Kuemper achieved his first shutout of the season and the 32nd of his career by making 16 saves, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday evening.
Adrian Kempe contributed significantly with one goal and one assist, while teammates Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala also found the net. The Kings have secured two wins in their last three games, showcasing their improving performance.
In goal for the Predators, Juuse Saros made 24 saves, but his efforts weren’t enough as Nashville struggled, now holding a record of 1-2-1 over their past four games.
Kopitar opened the scoring when he netted a goal with 6:36 left in the first period. After Saros initially turned aside his shot, Kopitar quickly reacted to collect the rebound and banked it in off the goalie’s skate.
Fiala, returning to face his former team, extended the lead to 2-0 just 35 seconds into the third period.
Throughout the final period, the Kings limited Nashville to only three shots on goal, with the first one coming at 3:55 left on the clock while Saros was pulled for an extra attacker in an attempt to generate offense.
Takeaways from the game highlight the Kings’ ability to dominate, particularly in the third period, where they held a 12-3 edge in shots on goal. In contrast, the Predators have been struggling offensively, having allowed their opponents to score first in nine out of twelve games this season. Nashville has been finding it difficult to score, ranking 26th in the NHL with an average of 2.64 goals per game entering the contest.
A critical moment in the match occurred just 1:11 into the second period when Kuemper made a crucial save on Colton Sissons’ backhand shot from close range, maintaining the Kings’ one-goal advantage.
Statistically, Kuemper improved his record against Nashville to 7-2-3 in 13 games, with three of those victories coming as shutouts, reflecting his competitive edge against this team.
Looking ahead, the Kings will be playing against Minnesota on Tuesday night, while the Predators are set to face Washington on Wednesday night.