5 takeaways and notes from LA Kings win over Buffalo Sabres
The Los Angeles Kings opened the season in Buffalo against the Sabres in a place they have struggled recently. The last two trips to Buffalo, the Kings failed to score a goal and would be out-scored 13-0.
It appeared like it was going to be more of the same after two periods as the Sabres held a 1-0 lead and were looking like the better team. However, that all changed in the third period as the Kings took over, led by their captain Anze Kopitar, to secure a 3-1 win.
These are five notes and takeaways from the first game of the 2024-25 season for the Los Angeles Kings.
Mikey Anderson named assistant captain for the LA Kings
Prior to the season opener, the Los Angeles announced that Mikey Anderson would be an assistant captain, which was later clarified before the game. Carryln Bathe on Bally Sports West said that Anderson would be the assistant captain for road games while Adrian Kempe would wear the 'A' for the Kings' home games.
This is usually something that would belong to Drew Doughty however he is expected to miss a few months due to the ankle surgery. Anderson has been a fixture on the Kings defense for the past four seasons after he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. This is a big honor, and recognition by the organization, of what Anderson brings to this team
Andre Lee plays in first career NHL game
One of the positives from the preseason was the play of Andre Lee, who's play earned him a spot on the Kings roster. He was originally waived prior to the Kings setting the Opening Night roster but that was only temporary as the Kings had to move Drew Doughty to the LTIR.
Welcome to the National, Andre Lee! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Dcw4RdRJiR
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 10, 2024
Lee was seventh round pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2019 NHL Draft and played his way onto the roster with the physicality he brought. He should continue to bring more of the same for the Kings early in the season.
Kings need to get more pucks on net
The Los Angeles Kings were out-shot 23-9 through the first two periods and while the offense was struggling to get into a flow early, another big reason for this was the Kings making one too many passes.
It wasn't until midway through the second that the Kings started to get some decent scoring chances but instead of taking a shot on net, the Kings would seemingly make that one extra pass that would take away any chance of getting shot.
In these types of games, where the offense isn't exactly clicking it is important to create some chaos in front of the net, and in those situations the puck has a better chance of finding the back of the net.
Darcy Kuemper comes up big to open the season
The Los Angeles Kings seemed to enter the season with questions at the goaltender but if the first game is any indication, there won't be anymore. Darcy Kuemper had a tremendous game in his first game back with the Kings after they traded with the Washington Capitals in the offseason for him.
He would finish the game allowing only one goal on 33 shots and Kuemper would have to come up big numerous times to keep the game close. In the first period, the Sabres would get a penalty shot that Kuemper would be able to deflect away
In the second period, Alex Tuch would have a breakaway after a turnover by Quinton Byfield in the neutral zone when the Kings were on the power play. Kuemper once again would make a good play with blocking the shot but couldn't bring in the rebound and Tuch would beat him for the first goal of the game.
Kuemper was great with the Kings back in 2017-18 and it looks like he quickly returned to that level with his performance against the Sabres.
Anze Kopitar once again gets off to a fast start to begin the season
The Los Angeles Kings really had no offense in the first two periods but Anze Kopitar quickly changed that in the third period. He would score the first goal of the season for the Kings in the first 15 seconds of the final period.
That goal would extend Kopitar's streak of seven straight seasons where he had at least a point. The streak started in the 2018-19 season and there is only one other player with a longer streak currently in the NHL, Filip Forsberg with nine straight seasons while Kyle Connor is tied with Kopitar at seven.
Kopitar wasn't done there though as he would score another goal on a power play late in the third that gave the Kings the lead. He would end his night with a hat trick on an empty-net goal in the final minute.
This is the second hat trick he has had in the opening game in the past three seasons as he also scored three goals against the Golden Knights to open the 2021-22 season.
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