LOS ANGELES — Andrei Kuzmenko shone brightly for the Los Angeles Kings with a goal and an assist, marking his first points since joining the team via trade. The Kings delivered a dominant performance with a 7-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
The game saw significant contributions from Anze Kopitar, Tanner Jeannot, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala, each registering a goal and an assist. Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore also found the net, securing the Kings’ fifth consecutive win on home ice. Goaltender David Rittich made an impressive 34 saves to maintain the Kings’ strong defense.
Carolina’s Dmitry Orlov and Mark Jankowski each scored, while Pyotr Kochetkov struggled in goal, making just 18 saves. This loss snapped the Hurricanes’ eight-game winning streak in dramatic fashion.
Kuzmenko, who was acquired on March 7 following a stint with the Philadelphia Flyers, made an instant impact by assisting on Kopitar’s power-play goal, putting the Kings up 2-0. He then scored a goal himself just before the end of the first period.
The Kings had high expectations for Kuzmenko to invigorate their power play and complement key players like Kopitar and Kempe. Since Kuzmenko’s arrival, Los Angeles has netted four power-play goals, while Kopitar and Kempe have combined for six goals and seven assists.
Takeaways:
The Hurricanes faced the challenge of competing without center Jordan Staal due to a lower body injury and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who was sidelined with an illness. This left them missing both their captain and a key offensive presence from the defensive line. Additionally, forward Seth Jarvis exited the game in the third period due to injury.
For the Kings, their success extends beyond this game, as they tied the franchise’s record for consecutive home games with points, reaching 13 games without a loss in regulation at home.
Key moments included Kochetkov conceding nearly identical goals at the start and conclusion of the first period, with both Kempe and Kuzmenko scoring from wrist shots into the right circle, capitalizing on the rush.
A notable stat from the game highlighted Kopitar achieving his 124th career power-play goal, allowing him to surpass Dave Taylor for the third-most in Kings history.
Looking ahead, the Hurricanes will face off against Anaheim, and the Kings are set to host Boston, with both games scheduled for Sunday.
