Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah Mammoth: Game Recap
In an exciting encounter on Monday, the Los Angeles Kings (14-8-7) made their first trip to face the Utah Mammoth (14-14-3) this season. After lighting up the scoreboard with six goals in their recent matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Kings were eager to sustain their offensive momentum against their Western Conference rivals. Despite a rocky spell that saw them drop three consecutive road games earlier in the season (0-2-1), the Kings regained their form with a solid 4-2 victory over the Mammoth, marking their second consecutive win away from home.
Influence of the Kings’ Moms
The presence of the Kings’ Moms seemed to work wonders as the team recorded a perfect 2-0-0 when their mothers were in attendance, boasting an impressive average of five goals per game during these matches. It appears that these maternal figures served as a lucky charm, supporting the theory that a mother’s influence can have remarkable effects.
Game Highlights
The Kings quickly established themselves in the game, building an early lead after dominating possession. Their first power play opportunity came just two minutes into the first period after Mammoth rookie Daniil But was penalized for hooking Kings forward Quinton Byfield. However, the Kings struggled to convert on the power play, continuing their season-long challenges in such situations.
Eventually, the breakthrough came through Adrian Kempe, who netted a fantastic unassisted goal with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first period, showcasing his exceptional speed and skill to give the Kings a 1-0 advantage. Assisted by Kevin Fiala, Kempe’s impressive play marked his 10th goal of the season. Shortly thereafter, the Kings doubled their lead; a beautiful pass from Fiala set up Joel Armia for a breakaway goal, making it 2-0 just minutes later. The first period saw a potential Mammoth goal from Brandon Tanev disallowed after Kings coach Jim Hiller successfully challenged for offside.
In the second period, the Mammoth managed to halve the deficit early on. The Kings started the frame on the penalty kill due to an interference call against Andrei Kuzmenko, and Dylan Guenther capitalized, scoring just 34 seconds in to bring Utah within one. Despite opportunities on both sides, the goaltenders maintained their composure, and the period concluded with the Kings leading at 2-1, which they considered a positive outcome given the start.
The Kings came out strong in the third period, with captain Anze Kopitar notching a crucial insurance goal, scoring his sixth of the season on a rebound shot from Vejmelka. Just when it seemed the Kings had firm control, Mammoth captain Clayton Keller answered back with a beautiful backhand goal off an assist from Nick Schmaltz, narrowing the score to 3-2. However, Joel Armia put the game out of reach with his second goal of the night, this time hitting an empty net from deep in Kings territory.
Standings and Upcoming Matches
With this latest victory, the Kings solidified their position in the Pacific Division standings, now sporting a record of 14-8-7 while maintaining a perfect 4-0-0 record against the new Utah Mammoth franchise. Their next challenge is set against the Seattle Kraken on December 10th at Climate Pledge Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM ET/10:00 PM PT.
Kings Three Stars
- Kevin Fiala (2 assists, +2, 1 hit)
- Adrian Kempe (1 goal, 1 assist, +2)
- Joel Armia (2 goals, +2, 4 shots on goal)
