ELMONT, N.Y. —
Andreas Athanasiou scored and assisted on Quinton Byfield’s first NHL purpose in his return from a protracted damage layoff, Cal Petersen made 23 saves and the L.A. Kings held off the New York Islanders 3-2 on Thursday night time.
Adrian Kempe had an empty-net purpose for the Kings, who received for the second time in three video games towards New York-area groups to start out a six-game highway journey.
Petersen, who improved to 10-6-1 on the season, additionally defeated the New Jersey Devils final Sunday. The Kings misplaced to the Rangers 3-2 in a shootout Monday, so Los Angeles has earned 5 of a doable six factors within the three video games.
“That was good, a good way to do it?” stated Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who was enjoying his 1,000th sport and assisted on Athanasiou’s purpose together with fellow veteran Dustin Brown. “Cal has been enjoying effectively. I’m very pleased for him.”
The Islanders lastly managed to beat Peterson on Mathew Barzal’s ninth purpose at 17:56 of the third.
Kempe scored his empty-netter to revive the two-goal margin at 19:24 with assists to Kings captain Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore.
Casey Cizikas lower the Islanders’ deficit to 3-2 with 19.3 seconds remaining to finish the scoring.
“The fellows performed arduous proper to the tip,” Kings coach Todd McLellan stated. ”Ten years from now, guys will keep in mind that Drew’s particular night time was a win and all people had a bit piece of it.“
Byfield opened the scoring along with his first NHL purpose at 17:05 of the primary. The 19-year-old Byfield, a 6-foot-5 ahead enjoying simply his fourth sport of the season and tenth of his profession, fired a low shot previous Semyon Varlamov. Byfield was the second general choose within the 2020 draft after the Rangers took Alexis Lafreniere.
“I’m positively tremendous excited,” Byfield stated. ”To do it with this group and on Drew’s 1,000th sport night time, it’s a particular second I'll keep in mind it my complete life.“
Athanasiou and the 37-year-old Brown — in his 18th season with the Kings — assisted on the purpose. Athanasiou was enjoying for the primary time since Dec. 14 after lacking 16 video games with a lower-body damage.
Athanasiou then scored at 19:54 of the second, his fourth purpose of the season with assists to Brown and Doughty.
Brown has 20 factors, together with six targets, in 41 video games this season. He has performed 1,273 profession video games, whereas the 34-year-old Kopitar leads the Kings with 25 assists and 38 factors general.
Doughty, Brown and Kopitar together with goaltender Jonathan Fast kind a quartet of Kings who received Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 and have been collectively for the reason that 2008-09 season.
The 32-year-old Doughty was the second general choose within the 2008 draft and in addition received the Norris Trophy in 2015-16 because the league’s finest defenseman. Doughty has 129 targets and 429 assists throughout his 14-year profession. He turned the fifth Kings participant to look in 1,000 video games for the franchise, becoming a member of Brown, Kopitar, Dave Taylor and Luc Robitaille.
Doughty mirrored on these prolonged bonds following his milestone sport.
“They're my brothers. I really like them very a lot,” he stated of his teammates. “I couldn’t have executed any of this with out them. I’m very pleased I may have a good time with them. They're one of the best.”
Varlamov made 27 saves in defeat for the Islanders, who had been internet hosting the Kings for the primary time since Feb. 6, 2020, a 5-3 win for New York at Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders entered the competition with 5 straight dwelling wins over Los Angeles; 4 at Barclays Middle in Brooklyn and one at Nassau Coliseum.
“They had been actually good at breaking out the puck and making these smaller performs,” Cizikas stated of the Kings’ affected person type. “They had been sitting again and ready for his or her alternatives. They did a great job getting in lanes and making it robust for our defensemen.“
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