Rookie forward Andre Lee still remembers attending a Kings game about 11 years ago while wearing an Anze Kopitar jersey and being impressed by the Los Angeles forward’s skills.
It was no different for the 24-year-old Lee when he made his NHL debut on Thursday night, wearing a Kings No. 47 jersey with his name on the back. He was amazed by the now 37-year-old captain, who scored three goals in a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
“It’s crazy that I’m playing with him right now, so I mean, it’s a dream come true,” Lee said. “He’s a hell of a player and he’s like a father figure, and he scored a hat-trick, so just looking at that was unreal.”
Kopitar has not lost his touch as he started his 19th NHL season with the seventh hat trick of his career, scoring all three goals in the third period.
“He gave the whole team a boost,” Lee said.
With many questions surrounding the Kings as they began the season after losing in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row, especially with defensive leader Drew Doughty out due to a broken ankle, Kopitar helped stabilize the team by coming through in crucial moments.
Down 1-0 and being out-shot 27-11 through two periods, Kopitar tied the game with a one-timer from the right circle just 13 seconds into the third period after receiving a pass from Alex Laferriere. He then scored the go-ahead goal on a power play with another one-timer from the top of the left circle with 1:38 left in the game.
Kopitar sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 42 seconds remaining.
“He’s the guy that we all look up to. He’s played in so many big games, and that’s just leadership,” said goalie Darcy Kuemper, who made 33 saves in his return to Los Angeles after being traded in the offseason.
“Things maybe aren’t going the way we want them to and he just goes out there and gets one right away and gets us back in it,” Kuemper added. “And then to get the game-winner, and then to seal it with the hat trick, that’s pretty special. He’s just an incredible player.”
