Kings roll past Rangers 6-3 as Drew Doughty posts first goal of the season

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

LOS ANGELES KINGS forward Drew Doughty had three points, including his first goal of the season, as the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday at Madison Square Garden. The win marked the Kings’ third victory in four games and improved their record to 3-1-0 on their current five-game road trip, which concludes Tuesday in Chicago.

Artemi Panarin contributed offensively for Los Angeles with a team-leading seventh goal and an assist. Taylor Ward, Mikey Anderson and Joel Edmundson also recorded their first goals of the season, while Edmundson added an assist and Alex Laferriere finished with two assists. Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves for the Kings in the victory.

New York entered the game with momentum on the season but suffered its third straight loss and, for the first time at home, fell to 6-1-0. The Rangers were also dealing with a goaltending change after an early first-period struggle by James Reimer, who made his first start after signing a one-year contract with the club on Sunday.

Reimer allowed three goals on eight shots in the first period and was replaced by Dylan Garand to start the second. Garand appeared in his ninth consecutive game, turned aside 15 shots, and finished with a relief effort during a stretch in which the Kings built a commanding lead.

Los Angeles took control early. Ward scored at 1:15 of the first period to give the Kings a 1-0 advantage, beating Reimer on a breakaway after getting behind New York’s defense and receiving a pass in stride from Doughty.

The Kings doubled their lead at 4:52 of the first period when Brandt Clarke capitalized on a delayed penalty. Clarke scored from the left post, with Joel Armia credited for starting the play via a sharp-angle centering pass cross-crease that was deflected by Clarke after Scott Laughton made a quick touch in front.

New York answered briefly at 13:01 when J.T. Miller scored by having the puck go in off his right skate to cut the Kings’ lead to 2-1. Doughty restored Los Angeles’ cushion just over four minutes later, scoring on a one-timer from the point at 17:32 to extend the lead to 3-1 heading into the second period.

The Kings expanded their advantage soon after the puck dropped in the second. Panarin scored on the power play 90 seconds into the period with a seeing-eye shot from the left face-off circle, putting Los Angeles ahead 4-1. Anderson added to the margin at 6:54 when he collected the puck off the face-off at the left dot in the offensive zone and snapped a slap shot past Garand to make it 5-1.

New York’s deficit continued to grow on special teams and even strength. Adam Fox scored his first goal of the season on the power play at 13:05 of the second period, a moment that came during Fox’s 500th NHL game. However, the Kings responded again as the game moved deeper into the third period.

Tye Kartye scored to pull New York closer late in the third, finishing a 6-on-5 goal at 16:08 to cut the score to 5-3. The Kings then sealed the outcome when Edmundson scored into the empty net at 16:37, producing the 6-3 final.

With the victory, Los Angeles improved to 3-5-2 overall and reached 3-1-0 on the road trip that began earlier in the month. The Rangers, now 7-6-1, will look to rebound after dropping their third consecutive game as they adjust following a home loss in which their opponent received early offensive production and maintained control after the goaltending change.