National Hockey League
Los Angeles 5, Anaheim 1
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Trent Knorr, Jesse Marquis
Attendance: 0

Adrian Kempe continued his goal-scoring onslaught with two more into the back of the net as the visiting Los Angeles Kings got the best of the rival Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Wednesday.

Anze Kopitar, Andreas Athanasiou and Alex Iafallo added goals for the Kings while goaltender Troy Grosenick made 33 saves in his first NHL appearance in more than six years.

Kempe has six goals in his past three games, including becoming the first Los Angeles player to deliver a hat trick against Anaheim in a 6-5 overtime defeat on Monday.

The Kings won for just the second time in their past seven games (2-2-3) while defeating the Ducks for the first time in three games (1-1-1). Los Angeles also won a game in regulation for the first time since Feb. 24.

Sam Steel scored a second-period goal for the Ducks while goaltender John Gibson had 32 saves as Anaheim's brief two-win streak came to an end.

Kempe wasted little time getting the Kings on the scoreboard, delivering his first of the night just 3:46 into the game on a power play. It was the first time the Kings scored the initial goal in their past seven games.

Los Angeles made it 2-0 when Kopitar scored on a power play at 5:20 of the second period, his seventh of the season. The Ducks needed just 19 seconds to answer, however, when Steel was credited with the goal on a puck that was deflected across the line by Kings forward Carl Grundstrom.

With 2:05 remaining in the second period, the Kings went up 3-1 when Kempe scored again, this time after Trevor Moore found him in the slot from the side of the Anaheim goal. It was Kempe's 11th of the season.

Athanasiou scored at 1:27 of the third period before Iafallo delivered with about seven minutes remaining. It was the sixth goal of the season for each of them.

Kempe just missed a second consecutive hat trick when he hit the post in the third period.

Grosenick's only other NHL victory came Nov. 16, 2014, with the San Jose Sharks, at Carolina. Wednesday was the third career game for the 31-year-old.

Kings No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Quick was out due to an upper-body injury, and backup Calvin Petersen was placed into COVID-19 protocol after playing in Monday's defeat.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Anaheim
Adrian Kempe 2 Points Sam Steel 1
Adrian Kempe 2 Goals Sam Steel 1
Jeff Carter 1 Assists Nicolas Deslauriers 1
Adrian Kempe 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Troy Grosenick .971 Save Percentage John Gibson .865
Troy Grosenick 33 Saves John Gibson 32
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 37 5 2-4 4-4 8 22
Anaheim 34 1 0-4 2-4 8 29
Upcoming Games
  • Anaheim will play their next game at home against San Jose. The Ducks have a W/L % of .250 after a win and .333 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Kings have a W/L % of .600 after a win and .357 after a loss.