Kempe Scores Two as Kings End Skid With First Victory
Los Angeles earned its first win of the season by beating Washington 5-2, ending a six-game slide. Adrian Kempe scored twice and Artemi Panarin added a goal and two assists. The Kings erased a 2-0 first-period deficit with two goals in 31 seconds.
Los Angeles secured its first victory of the season by defeating Washington 5-2 on the road Tuesday. The Kings had opened 0-4-2 and trailed 2-0 after Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals. Kempe and Panarin then struck 31 seconds apart late in the first period, with Panarin setting up Kempe before tying the game after Mikey Anderson created a turnover.
Erik Gustafsson put LA ahead on a third-period power play, his first NHL goal since January 2025 after mostly playing in the AHL. Kempe added another, Scott Laughton scored into an empty net, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 30 shots. Quinton Byfield exited after four shifts with an upper-body issue and was to be evaluated Wednesday.
For Los Angeles fans and the team’s local market, snapping the skid may ease frustration and renew early-season interest. A first win could bring more casual viewers to broadcasts or arena events, while Washington supporters may feel a short-lived letdown. More broadly, such results can create a small shared talking point among sports communities and a brief distraction, though the lasting social impact is likely modest.