Kings Secure Victory Over Jets Led by Kuzmenko

Sports news » Kings Secure Victory Over Jets Led by Kuzmenko

LOS ANGELES — Andrei Kuzmenko, Adrian Kempe, and captain Anze Kopitar each contributed a goal and an assist, propelling the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-1 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets, who lead the NHL, on Tuesday night.

Trevor Moore also found the net for the Kings, who now hold a two-point lead over Edmonton for the second spot in the Pacific Division.

Darcy Kuemper showcased his goaltending skills with 18 saves, as Los Angeles celebrated their 11th win in 14 games, dominating a matchup against one of the NHL`s top defensive teams.

Cole Perfetti scored his 17th goal for the Jets, while Connor Hellebuyck managed 16 saves. Winnipeg`s three-game winning streak was halted as they began a three-game road series.

Kuzmenko`s impressive two-way game was a highlight of his recent strong play for the Kings, who acquired him last month. He has accumulated nine points in his last seven games, following a goal and two assists in Los Angeles`s dominant 8-1 victory over San Jose on Sunday.

Moore initiated the scoring by deflecting Joel Edmundson`s puck into the net with his skate for his 17th goal.

Shortly after, Los Angeles demonstrated excellent transition play. Kuzmenko forced a turnover from David Gustafsson in the neutral zone and set up Kopitar for his 19th goal.

Kempe sealed the victory with his 32nd goal into an empty net.

Key Points

Jets: Luke Schenn was absent from the game, which could benefit the Dallas Stars, who are chasing Winnipeg, trailing by four points with one game in hand.

Kings: With another strong defensive effort, Los Angeles achieved a franchise record with their 28th home win of the season. They still have five home games remaining.

Turning Point

Kuzmenko capped off the second period by stealing the puck from Logan Stanley in the neutral zone and scoring an impressive unassisted goal.

Stat to Note

The Kings completed a season sweep of the Jets (3-0-0) for the first time since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in 2011.

Coming Up

The Jets will play in Vegas on Thursday, while the Kings will travel to Utah.

Rafferty Kingsmill

Rafferty Kingsmill is a 34-year-old sports journalist based in Bristol, England. Since 2015, he has been covering major sporting events, specializing in tennis and NBA coverage. His distinctive analytical approach and ability to predict emerging talents have earned him recognition among sports enthusiasts.

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