Kempe gets winner in OT, Kings edge Devils 2-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored in overtime and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Saturday.
Dustin Brown also scored and Jonathan Quick made 32 saves for the Kings. Los Angeles is 3-1-1 in its past five games.
Mackenzie Blackwood had his six-game winning streak broken despite making 36 saves, and the Devils earned a point for the fifth straight game.
The Kings controlled the puck in overtime before Kempe buried a wrist shot from the wrist circle at 1:58 for his 11th goal of the season and 100th career point.
Brown’s goal at 13:14 of the second period tied it up at 1. Anze Kopitar pressured Devils defenseman Damon Severson into a blind backhand that was picked off by Alex Iafallo, leading to Brown’s wrist shot in the slot to the short glove side.
The Devils took a 1-0 lead at 7:19 of the first period on Jesper Bratt’s 15th goal. Bratt was in the right circle to bury a one-timer off Nikita Gusev’s pass.
Gusev’s assist extended his point streak to five games. He has two goals and six assists in that span.
NOTES: Kings D Mikey Anderson played 18:59 in his NHL debut. A fourth-round draft pick in 2017 and two-time NCAA national champion at Minnesota-Duluth, he is the younger brother of Devils F Joey Anderson. … The Devils recalled F Jesper Boqvist from the AHL on Saturday. He will join the team in Anaheim on Sunday. … Kings C Jeff Carter (lower body) missed his fifth straight game.
UP NEXT
Devils: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
Kings: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.