The LA Kings capped off Dustin Brown night with a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

LAK: Jaret Anderson-Dolan (7), ASST: Alex Edler (6), Rasmus Kupari (5)

LAK: Alex Iafallo (8), ASST: Rasmus Kupari (6), Kevin Fiala (36)

Second period:

LAK: Adrian Kempe (23), ASST: Anze Kopitar (28), Quinton Byfield (8)

LAK: Adrian Kempe (24), ASST: Anze Kopitar (29), Mikey Anderson (11)

LAK: PP Adrian Kempe (25), ASST: Anze Kopitar (30), Drew Doughty (31)

Third period: 

LAK: PP Adrian Kempe (26), ASST: Kevin Fiala (37), Drew Doughty (32)

Stats

Goals:

PIT: 0

LAK: 6

Shots:

PIT: 25

LAK: 31

Power-plays:

PIT: 0/5

LAK: 2/5

Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s 6-0 win:

Honoring Dustin Brown

The day finally came. Prior to their matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the LA Kings honored Dustin Brown by retiring his jersey number and unveiling his statue.

The ceremony was perfectly put together by the Kings organization. It was a proper treatment for a former player who embodied what it meant to be an LA King. Plus having Brown raise the Cup in the same spot as he did in 2012 was the cherry on top.

Adrian Kempe x4

Adrian Kempe had a night to remember. Kempe recorded a natural hat trick in the third period and became the first Kings player to record four straight goals in a game. Do you want to know who was the last Kings player to record four goals in a game? That would be Dustin Brown. How fitting that Kempe was the first LA King to record four goals in a game since Dustin Brown, on Dustin Brown night.

Kempe looks to be heating up as he has recorded seven goals in his last four games. After posting a career-high 35 goals last year, Kempe looks to be on pace to set a new career-high this year.

Pheonix Copley records a shutout

Fresh off of signing his one-year extension with the Kings on Friday, Pheonix Copley recorded his first shutout as an LA King stopping all 25 shots he saw. The Kings needed Copley to make several big saves in the first period as the Penguins controlled the pace, and he did. While Copley’s style isn’t flashy and his numbers don’t spell elite, he looks calm in the net. It was also a good bounce-back win for him after that debacle against the Carolina Hurricanes a little over a week ago.

Penalty kill goes perfect

The penalty kill has been an issue for the LA Kings for most of the season. However, lately, it has been getting better and that was on display last night. While Pittsburgh’s power play is around the middle of the pack (17th at 22%), it still has players that can put the puck in the net. The Penguins had five power play opportunities and the Kings killed off all five. Rasmus Kupari and Anze Kopitar were two players that stood out to me on the penalty kill with their pressure, puck battles, or stick placement. Overall, the way the Kings played last night, that is how you honor a franchise icon.

UP NEXT: The LA Kings return to action Monday night as the Buffalo Sabres come into town. Game time is at 7:30 pm PT and can be seen on Bally Sports West.

Featured image credit: Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *