Kempe nets 2 goals in a 4-1 win over the Ducks

ANAHEIM -- Adrian Kempe had two goals and an assist for the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday.

Kempe has scored six goals in the past four games, including three multigoal games.
"For the rest of the season now, every game is going to be huge and every point we can get is going to be big," Kempe said. "We can't relax now. We're in a good spot right now and we need to keep that. We can't fall off like we've done previously."

LAK@ANA: Kempe sends a shot in on far side for 2nd

Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist, and Jonathan Quick made 24 saves for the Kings (28-17-7), who are 8-0-2 in their past 10 road games.
Kings coach Todd McLellan entered NHL COVID-19 protocol before the game. Assistant Trent Yawney took over as coach.
"It's a little crazy how Todd went down and nobody saw it coming," Kopitar said. "But Trent and Marco [Sturm] did a good job preparing us and being behind the bench for us."
Troy Terry scored for the Ducks (25-20-9), who were trying to win three in a row for the first time since an eight-game winning streak Oct. 31-Nov. 16.
John Gibson allowed four goals on 20 shots and was pulled 14:17 into the second period. Anthony Stolarz made 12 saves in relief.
"We just didn't have the compete level and the intensity that we needed," Anaheim defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "It's embarrassing."
Grundstrom scored off feed from Quinton Byfield for a 1-0 lead at 7:50 of the first period after Gibson made two saves to help the Ducks kill an early interference penalty on Jakob Silfverberg.
Byfield brought the puck down the left side and pulled to a stop abruptly as Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura skated by. Byfield then centered a pass to Grundstrom, who redirected the puck into the net.

LAK@ANA: Grundstrom tips home a nice feed

The Kings scored three times in the second period to chase Gibson, who has saved 105 of 128 shots (.820) in five games since playing in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 5.
"I think he's been greatly fatigued coming out of [the All-Star break]," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "We're extremely excited that he goes and represents our team, and it's a spotlight on him because he's certainly earned it. The other side of it is you come out of that, you're right back at practice, right back to playing and there's no rest."
Kempe made it 2-0 at 3:51. Kopitar stole the puck behind the Anaheim net and fed Kempe for a one-timer from the left circle during 4-on-4 play.
"Everything was going fine in the second period until we had a turnover, tough exchange behind the net, and bang, it's in your net," Eakins said.
Kopitar increased the lead to 3-0 at 10:11 when he scored on a one-timer from the right circle on a power play.
"We get one on the power play and it gets us confidence going into 5-on-5 too," Kempe said. "You feel better, obviously."

LAK@ANA: Kopitar slides home a one-timer for a PPG

Kempe scored his 25th goal for a 4-0 lead at 12:51. The Ducks turned over the puck in their zone again and Kempe scored on a wrist shot from above the right circle.
Stolarz entered for Gibson during a timeout at 14:17.
Terry ended the shutout at 2:12 of the third period to make it 4-1.
Quick won his 350th NHL game, joining Marc-Andre Fleury of the Chicago Blackhawks (508) and Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens (360) as the third active goalie with that many.
"I don't think I have to say too much, we're used to what 'Quicky' does," Kopitar said. "Sometimes we get complacent with it because he's so good back there."
NOTES:Quick is the fourth United States-born goalie to get 350 wins, joining Ryan Miller (391), John Vanbiesbrouck (374) and Tom Barrasso (369). Quick is 350-259-75 in 696 games (688 starts) in 15 seasons with the Kings. … Defenseman Dustin Brown had an assist, his 384th to tie Butch Goring for eighth in Kings history. … Los Angeles forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault each had a five-game point streak end. … Kempe is the first Kings player with 25 goals since Kopitar (35) and Dustin Brown (28) during the 2017-18 season. ... Ducks forward Adam Henrique had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (five points; three goals, two assists). … The Kings play the New York Islanders on Saturday.