2 studs, 1 dud from LA Kings gritty win over the Isles

With over two-dozen shots on goal and more scoring chances, the Los Angeles Kings (27-23-15) and new interim head coach DJ Smith moved to a 2-0-1 record in the standings this regular season on this road trip in the East late this week on Friday (March 13) vs. the New York Islanders (37-24-5).

Anze Kopitar sets a record in the history of the franchise for the Los Angeles Kings in road play vs. the New York Islanders on Friday this weekend

Since Smith and the Kings' coaching staff on the ice need every point they can muster in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season in this past couple of months, this was a big win on the road for this team late this week and before this upcoming weekend.

The Kings jumped out to an early hot start on the ice and on the scoreboard this evening on Friday vs. the Islanders on the road at UBS Arena, with a good start on the stat sheet with three goals and a shutout for Darcy Kuemper in the opening frame. Smith and the Kings got goals from winger Adrian Kempe, center captain Anze Kopitar, and winger Trevor Moore in the opening frame in the first period.

In the middle frame in the second period and the final frame on the ice, the Isles pushed back with a couple of goals on the scoreboard to cut the Kings' lead to one. But the Kings held on for a big win on the scoreboard this evening to be a comeback-minded Isles squad on the ice.

In Game 6 with Smith as the head coach and the coaching staff, the Kings came up with an important two points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division on Friday evening. The Kings held onto a lead in the final frame in the third period this evening on the road in the front end of back-to-back games against a playoff team in the Eastern Conference this regular season.

Here are two studs, and one dud from the Kings' determined 3-2 regulation win over the Islanders on the road in New York on March 13.

Stud: Adrian Kempe, W

Kempe scored the eventual game-winning goal in the opening frame in the first period on the ice for the Kings and just before the first intermission in the locker room for the team. He scored a beautiful highlight-reel goal with one hand on his stick while being tied up by the Islanders' defender in the opening frame in the first period.

Artemi Panarin fed a nice pass in the zone offensively for the Kings to take a commanding 3-0 lead on the scoreboard in the opening frame today on the road vs. New York.

The only knock I have against Kempe from this game on the ice was slightly missing the empty net that could've sealed the win on the scoreboard late in the final frame in the third period. In fairness offensively, Kempe had the shot tipped before it was able to reach the empty net in the zone for the Kings in the final frame.