The Los Angeles Kings are aiming to match their longest winning streak in over three years when they play the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Newark, N.J.
The Kings extended their winning streak to six games on Tuesday when they started a seven-game road trip with a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders. A win on Thursday would give Los Angeles its first seven-game streak since October 30-November 11, 2021.
Adrian Kempe scored the first goal for the second straight game on Tuesday, assisted by captain Anze Kopitar.
Kempe has scored nine of his team-high 14 goals in the last 11 games.
Kopitar, who is on a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists), leads the team in assists (24) and points (32).
“We’ve played together enough to where he knows what I’m going to do and I’ve got a pretty good idea with where he’s going to be and how he’s going to react in certain situations,” Kopitar said about Kempe. “So, yeah, I mean, the chemistry has been there and, hopefully, we can keep it going.”
The addition of Trevor Moore has not affected the line’s performance. In fact, Moore has three goals and two assists in his last four games.
“The last few games, (our line) has been going pretty good,” Kopitar said. “It always takes a few games to get adjusted, with Trevor coming in on the line and Adrian (Kempe) and me making sure we know where he’s going to be. Right now, it seems like the plays are clicking.”
The fast start was a pleasant surprise for Kings head coach Jim Hiller, who wasn’t sure how his team would perform at the beginning of the long road trip.
“You know, you’re not sure how you’re going to come out. We flew all the way out here, all that kind of stuff, and (the first) was probably one of our best periods of the year,” Hiller said.
New Jersey had won 13 of 18 games before losing two straight home games this week.
The Devils were shut out for the fifth time this season in a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. They then dropped a 2-1 overtime game to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Jesper Bratt increased his team-leading totals in assists (25) and points (38) after assisting Ondrej Palat’s goal in the first period. Bratt has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his last six games.
New Jersey dominated in shots, leading 39-17, but the loss was still disappointing.
“It’s a great game by our guys and they deserved a lot more than one point,” goaltender Jacob Markstrom said. “I thought we lost one point (on Tuesday). You don’t build off losses, you build off wins, so that’s a sour one.”
The Devils will finish their five-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks.
