Goodbyes aren’t always enjoyable and Anze Kopitar’s final matchup with Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin certainly didn’t come with a storybook ending for the LA captain.
After falling behind 1-0 after 20 minutes, the Kings came back to tie things up in the middle frame with a goal from Adrian Kempe. It was his ninth goal of the season and means he’s now recorded goals in back-to-back games, after also finding the back of the net on Saturday vs. Vancouver.
In a small consolation prize, Kopitar assisted on the Kempe goal Monday, his ninth helper of the season. That also brought his career totals to 22 points (10G, 12A) in 30 games played against the Capitals.
There appeared to be what should have been a slashing penalty to Washington on a shot by Trevor Moore late in the third period. However, no call was made and that turned into a talking point by several after the contest — despite it not changing the outcome. A pair of goals from the visitors — including an empty net goal when Jim Hiller pulled netminder Darcy Kuemper for an extra attacker — ultimately sealed the Kings fate.
Other Notes & Takeaways:
— The Capitals have now won five games in a row.
— Kopitar is now 15 points away from tying Marcel Dionne for the most points in LA Kings history and is eight away from reaching the 1,300-point milestone.
— With nine points (5G, 4A) in 16 career games versus Washington, Kempe is now just one point behind Drew Doughty (1G, 9A) in 24 GP) for the second most points against the Capitals among active members of the Kings roster.
— Shots on goal were fairly even, favoring Washington, 25 to 24.
— Faceoffs also slightly favored the Caps, as they won 26-of-49 draws (53.1%).
Full game highlights can be viewed here:
Pregame notes and lineups can be found in the article linked below.
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