ID 295526221 | Arizona © Dave Hewison | Dreamstime.com

Anze Kopitar Leads LA Kings to Triumph Over Vegas Golden Knights

Anze Kopitar’s Stellar Performance Boosts Kings

Anze Kopitar, the star player of the Los Angeles Kings, showcased his exceptional skills on Wednesday night, scoring one goal and delivering two assists—one of which marked his 800th career assist—in a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. His teammates, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala, each contributed a goal and an assist, while Warren Foegele, Alex Laferriere, and Joel Edmundson tallied their names on the score sheet as well. This latest win adds to the Kings’ impressive run, having emerged victorious in three of their last four games.

LA Kings’ Supporting Cast Shines

The Kings’ victory was a team effort, with notable contributions from Brandt Clarke, who provided three assists, and Mikey Anderson, who added two assists. In the net, Darcy Kuemper demonstrated his prowess with 23 saves. Kopitar’s historic 800th assist came during Fiala’s power-play goal at the 6:23 mark of the third period.

Kopitar Joins the Ranks of NHL Elite

Kopitar’s milestone assist places him amongst the elite group of non-North American born players with 800 assists, a club that includes NHL legends Jaromir Jagr, Evgeni Malkin, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Henrik Sedin. He is also one of the few active players, alongside Sidney Crosby, Malkin, and Patrick Kane, to achieve this feat.

Golden Knights Struggle on the Road

Vegas Golden Knights’ Pavel Dorofeyev put up a good fight with two goals, and Tanner Pearson contributed one. Despite their efforts, the Golden Knights’ road woes continue, boasting a perfect 7-0 home record but struggling on the road with a 0-3-1 tally.

Key Moments and Stats from the Game

The Kings’ scoring prowess was on full display with goals coming in rapid succession. Foegele and Kempe netted their goals just 42 seconds apart in the first period, while Laferriere and Kopitar increased the lead to 4-0 within 44 seconds in the second period. Fiala and Edmundson added their goals within a span of 100 seconds in the third period. Kopitar, with his impressive record of 15 goals and 39 points in 34 games against the Golden Knights, holds the record for the most points scored by any player against Vegas.

What’s Next for the Teams

The Vegas Golden Knights are set to host Utah on Saturday, while the Kings will welcome the Chicago Blackhawks on their home ice.