3 takeaways from the LA Kings' narrow loss to Winnipeg

Darcy Kuemper and the Los Angeles Kings started slowly in the game's first period this morning north of the border in Canada, against the Winnipeg Jets on the road. For the third game in a row this fall early this regular season, head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings took multiple penalties that resulted in the special teams going on the penalty kill in the opening frame in the first period.

Jets get the best of Adrian Kempe and the Los Angeles Kings in the third period

The Jets were all over the puck in the opening frame in the first period, scoring on an untimely Kings penalty just a few minutes into the game. In the game's first 10 minutes in the first period this morning, the Jets outshot the Kings 11-2 and had over twice as many scoring chances (per Natural Stat Trick).

It was a physical game from the jump in the first period today. Jeff Malott dropped the gloves for a fight in the first period for the second time in the past three games. It was good to see Malott coming to the defense of his teammate, who was checked by Jets' defenseman Logan Stanley in the first period.

Early in the game's second period, the Kings responded with a seeing-eye shot from the point by defenseman Mikey Anderson for his first goal of the young season for LA. The Kings did a nice job of dialing up the pressure with the forecheck in the offensive zone around the puck to set the tone in the second period.

The Kings built on the momentum from the Anderson goal with a beautiful passing play between forwards Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, and Andrei Kuzmenko for LA to take the lead for the first time this game in the second.

Kempe was huge for the Kings in the second period. He played a role in both goals the Kings scored in the second frame.

Winnipeg hung around long enough in the second to kill off a Kings' power play on special teams late in the second period. The Jets scored on an odd-man rush thanks to the extra player coming out of the penalty box after the kill for Winnipeg to tie things up on the scoreboard 2-2 at the end of the second frame.

The pace of play continued to be rampant for both teams and on each end of the ice for LA in the final frame in the third period.

The Jets took the lead back for the first time since the first period early in the game on a timely tip-in goal by Mark Scheifele. The Kings were getting lazy and chasing the puck around in the defensive zone in front of Kuemper when Scheifele tipped in a shot that was going wide of the net in clutch time in the third period.

There were opportunities the Kings had in the third period, including two late power plays. But Kempe, Kopitar, and the Kings couldn't crack the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck. In the game's final 25 minutes, Hellebucyk stopped five high-danger scoring chances and double-digit scoring chances from the Kings.

Here are three takeaways from the Kings' narrow 3-2 loss to the Jets on the road at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Oct. 11.

Untimely penalties continue to cost the Kings

The Jets took advantage of undisciplined and untimely penalties by the Kings in the opening frame, scoring on their first power play opportunity on special teams early in the first period. Alex Iafallo put the puck past Kuemper under five minutes into the first period when he was left alone in a high-danger area out in front of the net by the Kings' defensemen down low.

Penalties have been the most costly and undiscplined problem for Hiller and the Kings early this regular season in early October this fall. Coming into today's game, the Kings were the only team with double-digit penalties this campaign.

In the game's first period alone, the Kings took four penalties and gave the Jets the power play opportunities with the special teams.

Adrian Kempe breaks the ice with his first goal of the 2025-26 season for the Kings

I don't think I've seen Kempe play better hockey for the Kings early this regular season this fall than he did in the game's second period this morning against Winnipeg on the road. Kempe turned his game up to a different level in the game's second period today, scoring one goal and one assist for the Kings in a span of under 10 minutes in the second frame.

Kempe has been red-hot scoring the puck for the Kings against the Jets in the past 18 months. He's now scored multiple go-ahead goals and averages one goal per game against the Jets in the last four games against Winnipeg, including a key game-winning goal late this past regular season in early 2025 back in January.

Unfortunately, Kempe's two-point game wasn't enough to keep the Kings' winning streak alive on the road against the Jets early this regular season when the clock showed zeros on the scoreboard today in Winnipeg north of the border.

Kings can't harness momentum in the third period

The game started out with one team dominating each of the first two periods. The Jets had control of the puck and the game on the scoreboard in the first period, including three power plays on special teams.

The Kings responded in the second period, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes of the middle frame vs. the Jets and Hellebuyck. Special teams momentum flipped in the Kings' favor, and it looked like LA would go into the third period with the lead on the scoreboard 2-1.

But the Jets wouldn't go away, and the constant pressure and effort the Jets displayed on the defensive end of the ice paid dividends when it was all said and done.

This was a great duel in net between Kuemper and Hellebuyck. I don't think evaluating Kuemper's game in net based on the sub-.900 save percentage is a fair way to analyze his game today for the Kings between the pipes.