It looks like the Los Angeles Kings have figured something out for finding more consistent success in the win column this fall, early in the regular season. Just a few days ago, it looked like head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings were on the verge of collapsing in the power rankings and the standings in the Pacific Division early this season.
Los Angeles Kings have notched back-to-back wins this week thanks to nice game-winning goals from forward Adrian Kempe
The Kings had lost five out of the first six games early this season in the West, including zero wins on home ice at Crypto Arena.
Hiller and the Kings have more momentum built in the win column early this regular season after getting off on the right foot to the five-game Western Conference road trip this week.
Here are three red-hot Kings players who have helped the team find more success in the win column in the standings in the Pacific Division after the regular season's first eight games this fall.
Adrian Kempe, W
Tonight against the Predators, the Kings will see the return of the first-line forward group that includes captain Anze Kopitar centering Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko with the core for LA. Kempe has been superb for the Kings in the past couple of games this week, scoring a couple of game-winning goals and four total points against the Stars and Blues.
Kempe is the first player in the Kings' franchise history who scored game-winning goals in back-to-back overtime games this past week against the Stars and Blues in Dallas and St. Louis.
"Just a beautiful goal. Great pass, great finish by Juice. He’s playing the top; we don’t see him over on that left flank too often anymore, but you see why he’s scored a bunch of goals from there."Jim Hiller on Adrian Kempe
Leading the team with 11 points, Kempe has been the spark to the Kings' offense consistently early this regular season. He's registered multiple points in the past four games where the Kings picked up at least one point in the standings in the West.
Kevin Fiala, W
Kevin Fiala has been playing with a lot of confidence and tempo early this regular season for the Kings in the offensive zone. Fiala has done a nice job of sparking and quarterbacking the offense for the Kings with the second-line forward group this fall.
If Kempe has been the best scorer in the offensive zone this season for the Kings, Fiala is probably the most consistent scorer for the team.
He assisted Kempe on a nice play in overtime for the game-winning goal for the Kings on the road in Dallas this past Thursday against the Stars. Fiala has registered at least a point in all but one of the Kings' eight games this season.
Darcy Kuemper, G
The Kings have gotten steady and calm goaltending in the crease in the past week or so to start this five-game road trip in the West over the past few days. Darcy Kuemper has a save percentage over .935 in the Kings' win over the Blues and Stars in the past few days this week.
"He was huge on the kill, he was huge in the second period, making some big saves. Without him, I don’t think we got the two points tonight."Cody Ceci on Darcy Kuemper
Something has clicked for Kuemper since he returned from the lower-body injury this past Tuesday night on the road against the Blues.
Had it not been for the play of Kuemper in net in the past couple of games, the Kings probably don't come out of the road trip's first two games this week with four points in the standings in the West. He registered 1.88 goals saved above expected in the overtime win over the Stars this past Thursday (per Money Puck).