New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, left, protects the net from the Kings’ Alex Laferriere (14) during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Trevor Moore (12) shoots the puck past the New York Islanders’ Carson Soucy for a goal during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) reacts as the Kings’ Trevor Moore celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, left, protects the net from the Kings’ Alex Laferriere during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of a game as the New York Islanders’ Casey Cizikas (53) and goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) watch on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kings captain Anze Kopitar (11) and Alex Turcotte (15) celebrate with teammates after Kopitar scored a goal during the first period of their game against the New York Islanders on Friday night at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Adrian Kempe (9) shoots the puck past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) and Brayden Schenn (10) for a goal during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Adrian Kempe (9), Artemi Panarin (10) and Cody Ceci (5) celebrate after Kempe scored a goal during the first period of a game against the New York Islanders on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The New York Islanders’ Jean-Gabriel Pageau, right, dekes past the Kings’ Brian Dumoulin during the second period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper protects the net during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The New York Islanders’ Emil Heineman (51) celebrates with teammates Bo Horvat (14), Tony DeAngelo (77) and Mathew Barzal (13) after scoring a goal during the second period of a game against the Kings on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper skates on the ice during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) and teammate Cody Ceci (5) protect the net from the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee (27) during the second period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, left, protects the net from the Kings’ Jared Wright (53) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The New York Islanders’ Emil Heineman (51) and Matthew Schaefer (48) skate past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, back left, after Heneman scored a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Jeff Malott (39) fights for position with the New York Islanders’ Carson Soucy (4) and goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Kings’ Quinton Byfield (55) fights for control of the puck with the New York Islanders’ Bo Horvat (14) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The New York Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer (48) leaves the ice as the the Kings celebrate after an NHL hockey game Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, left, protects the net from the Kings’ Alex Laferriere (14) during the first period on Friday, March 13, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
ELMONT, N.Y. — Anže Kopitar inched closer to the Kings’ franchise scoring record, contributing the second goal in a three-goal first-period flurry that carried the Kings to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night at UBS Arena.
Kopitar, who has spent his entire 20-year career with the Kings and plans to retire following the season, scored his 448th goal to increase his career point total to 1,306, one shy of matching Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne (550 goals, 757 assists).
“He’s the leader of this group and he’s played really well,” Kings interim coach D.J. Smith told NHL.com. “He continues to push. We have a goal of continuing to push and win games here to give ourselves a chance to get into the playoffs, so he’s been a big reason.”
Adrian Kempe scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season and Trevor Moore also scored for the Kings (27-23-15), who got 21 saves from Darcy Kuemper and climbed into the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 69 points, one point ahead of the idle San Jose Sharks. The Kings are 2-0-1 so far on their five-game trip.
“I think guys are feeling better about our game again,” Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson told NHL.com. “It (stinks) when (a coach gets fired), but sometimes it needs to happen for the group. I think the guys as a whole have responded well. You kind of find yourself in a little rhythm, playing better, a little more lively around the rink, on the bench. So, all positives. We just have to keep building on it.”
Emil Heineman scored twice and Bo Horvat added two assists, while Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for the Islanders (37-24-5), who remained tied for second in the Metropolitan Division with the Pittsburgh Penguins at 79 points apiece. The teams are also tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the top Eastern Conference wild-card spot, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins.
An Islanders turnover following Horvat’s faceoff win with Quinton Byfield led to Moore’s unassisted goal 3:33 into the first. Scott Mayfield collected the puck, but his shot was blocked by Moore, who surged in alone and beat Sorokin stick side.
Kopitar doubled the lead with 6:53 left, when Mikey Anderson’s shot from between the blue line and the left faceoff circle caromed to Kopitar, who tucked it into the net from the right crease.
“He’s obviously one of the best 200-foot players ever,” Kings forward Alex Turcotte told NHL.com. “So, yeah, he got the puck to me, I got it to Mikey, and then Mikey made a great play to him. And it’s obviously pretty cool, playing with him. I’ve learned so much. I didn’t even know he was that close (to Dionne). So, it’s pretty cool.”
Another turnover helped the Kings go ahead 3-0 with 1:32 remaining. Artemi Panarin intercepted Matthew Schaefer’s neutral-zone pass and passed to Kempe, who managed to get his stick on the puck while holding Brayden Schenn with his left arm before the puck fluttered past Sorokin.
Kempe now has five goals and four assists in his last six games.
Heineman began the Islanders’ comeback attempt at 10:46 of the second period. The left winger, stationed in the slot, extended his stick to redirect Adam Pelech’s shot, after which the puck bounced off the right post.
Heineman scored in similar fashion 3:38 into the third, when Schaefer’s shot glanced off Heineman’s stick as he was gliding back to screen Kuemper.
New York outshot the Kings 11-4 in the third, which ended with Joel Edmundson blocking Schaefer’s shot just before time expired.
After the game, the Islanders stayed on the ice and shook hands with Kopitar.
UP NEXT
The Kings play at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT.