LA Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights

In their second preseason game, the LA Kings defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in overtime on Monday in Vegas.

An Adrian Kempe power play goal in overtime gave the LA Kings their first win of the preseason.

It was a much more veteran lineup on Monday for the Kings as many of the big-name players made their preseason debut:

It was a decent start for the Kings as they registered the first five shots on goal of the game. The tide would turn quickly, though, courtesy of Jack Eichel.

Neither team really got a whole lot going offensively throughout this game. In the second period, the two sides combined for just 12 shots on goal. One of those, however, came from Kevin Fiala, who knotted the game at one with his first unofficial goal in an LA Kings uniform:

Fiala would pick up an assist on Kempe’s overtime winner as well as the two connected on a 4-on-3 power play goal:

Cal Petersen started the game for the Kings. He made 10 saves on 11 shots. Pheonix Copley played the second and third periods and was excellent. He stopped all 23 shots he faced.

For Vegas, Logan Thompson turned away all nine shots he saw in just over a half hour of work. Adin Hill finished the game with seven saves on nine shots.

Vegas outshot LA 34-18.

News & Notes

  • Cal Petersen played the first period and did not return. The LA Kings announced that he left the game due to a lower-body injury.
  • Brandt Clarke continues to put up points. We know the depth of the Kings’ defense on the right side, and we know the contracts already in LA. But the way Clarke is playing, it’s becoming harder and harder to imagine him in the OHL and not the NHL.
  • Without a full roster of players, we don’t want to read too much into things, but Gabriel Vilardi did get a look alongside Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, and Jordan Spence on the power play. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the unit rarely got set up, so we didn’t get a great look into how that group would operate.
  • The LA Kings’ first goal will heap deserving praise on Fiala and Clarke. Watch the video again. Jaret Anderson-Dolan makes the initial zone entry and pass to Fiala. His center lane drive pulled the weakside defenseman just enough to allow Clarke to step into open ice. JAD is a smart player that will make several subtle plays throughout a game. If, hypothetically, the Kings decide to keep eight defensemen to give Clarke a look, a player like Anderson-Dolan could be the odd man out.
  • Amidst all the talk of right-shot defensemen and Brandt Clarke, Jordan Spence is flying under the radar. He has picked up right where he left off this offseason, and by no means should he be completely overlooked. Of course, he’s waiver-exempt, so from a roster management standpoint, it’s an “easier” decision, but he’s looked good.

The LA Kings are back in action on Wednesday night from Toyota Arena when they take on the San Jose Sharks.

(Main photo credit: Axs.com)

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