LA Kings-Jets Player Grades: First Home Win

Player grades from the LA Kings’ 3–0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night

Brian Dumoulin (B) – I didn’t notice Dumoulin too much on Tuesday, which I suppose is a good thing. He joined the rush on a scoring chance early in the third period, recording his only shot on goal of the night.

Cody Ceci (B–) – No official shots on goal for Ceci, though he did take a point shot that didn’t get through but created a second-chance opportunity for Danault in the first period. Ceci had a bad turnover in his own zone late in the second period that led to a Winnipeg scoring chance.

Joel Edmundson (B+) – No complaints about Edmundson’s game on Tuesday. He unleashed two booming shots from the point early in the first period and another in the second. He led all Kings defensemen with four shots on goal and added a pair of blocked shots.

Drew Doughty (A) – Doughty registered just one shot on goal, which was the empty-netter from long distance. The goal was No. 162 in his career, passing Rob Blake for the most goals by a defenseman in LA Kings history.

Mikey Anderson (B) – I didn’t notice Anderson much on Tuesday, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He finished with one blocked shot and two hits.

Brandt Clarke (B) – Just 14:20 of ice time for Clarke, who logged one shot on goal, coming from above the left-wing circle early in the third period.

Adrian Kempe (A) – Kempe opened the scoring in the first period with his 200th career goal. He finished with three shots on goal overall.

Corey Perry (A) – A strong game from Perry. He finished with three shots on goal, his best chance coming in front of the net on a broken play early in the third period. Perry also showed excellent vision and patience on Fiala’s goal, drawing defenders toward him before finding his teammate alone in the high slot.

Anze Kopitar (A) – Kopitar nearly gave the Kings the lead just 10 seconds into the game on a backhander. He also had a strong backcheck in Winnipeg’s defensive zone that forced a turnover and led to a Danault shot attempt. Kopitar won 74% of his faceoffs.

Trevor Moore (B) – Moore was part of a beautiful high–low–high sequence on Kempe’s scoring chance early in the second period. Otherwise, he wasn’t overly noticeable.

Alex Laferriere (B+) – Laferriere finished with one shot on goal, a tuck attempt on the power play in the second period. He also applied a strong forecheck in the Jets’ zone that created a turnover and a Danault shot attempt.

Alex Turcotte (B) – No shot attempts for Turcotte in just 9:54 of ice time, but he won 60% of his faceoffs.

Kevin Fiala (A) – A solid performance from Fiala. He showed excellent patience on his goal, finding the seam and firing a quick-release shot. He finished with two shots on goal.

Phillip Danault (A+) – Danault’s best game of the season? He led all Kings skaters with four shots on goal, including a great first-period chance off Ceci’s point shot. He also set up Kuzmenko for a scoring chance on that high–low–high play with Moore.

Jeff Malott (B) – A steady game from Malott, who finished with two shots on goal.

Joel Armia (B+) – No shots on goal for Armia, but he notched an assist on Kempe’s goal, which was a strong feed from below the net that drew a forechecker and opened up space in front for Kempe.

Quinton Byfield (A) – Just one shot on goal for Byfield, but he contributed in other areas. He was part of a 2-on-1 rush in the second period and made a slick offensive zone entry that set up Fiala’s goal.

Andrei Kuzmenko (B+) – Kuzmenko recorded three shots on goal, with his best look coming on that high–low–high play with Danault and Moore.

Darcy Kuemper (A+) – After a subpar game against New Jersey, Kuemper bounced back in a big way. He stopped all 23 shots he faced for his 37th career shutout. Kuemper made a big first-period save on former King Alex Iafallo and showed great awareness early in the second, batting the puck out of the air after deflecting it with his blocker. He also made a huge save on a 2-on-1 chance for the Jets in that frame.