Bold start: The Los Angeles Kings outplayed the Utah Mammoth 4-2, turning a tight contest into a confident road win that showcased depth and discipline on both ends of the ice.
SALT LAKE CITY — Joel Armia struck twice, Adrian Kempe added a goal and an assist, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Monday night. Anze Kopitar found the scoresheet with a goal, and Kevin Fiala contributed two assists to help Los Angeles notch their third win in five games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 shots in goal.
For Utah, Clayton Keller produced a goal and an assist, and Dylan Guenther also scored for the Mammoth, who dropped their sixth in eight games. Karel Vejmelka finished with 23 saves.
Key moments:
- Kempe opened the scoring at 7:50 of the first period, converting a pass from Fiala on a backhand past Vejmelka for his 10th of the season.
- Armia made it 2-0 at 10:08, finishing a long stretch pass from Fiala as he beat Vejmelka from the circles.
- Guenther pulled Utah within one early in the second period, blasting a one-timer from the high slot on the power play off a Keller feed for his 11th of the season.
- Kopitar restored the Kings’ two-goal cushion at 3:27 of the third, cashing in a rebound in front.
- Keller again got Utah within a goal with 7:47 remaining, but Armia iced the win with an empty-net tally with 1:38 to go.
Up next
- Kings visit Seattle on Wednesday night.
- Mammoth host Florida on Wednesday night.
Source note: AP News coverage is available for further context."}
