Adrian Kempe nets hat trick, LA Kings top Ducks 5-3

The LA Kings (47-25-10) wrapped up the regular season with a 5-3 win against their division rival Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Los Angeles received goals from Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe (x3), and Trevor Moore. Joonas Korpisalo made his second consecutive start, turning aside 21-of-24 shots on net.

First Period

Despite “Go Kings Go” ringing throughout the Honda Center just after puck drop, the Ducks wasted little time to open the scoring.

Fowler goal: The Kings’ defense lost track of Troy Terry, who had one of the easiest goals he’ll ever have. Just like that, Kings trailed 1-0.

8 in: Doughty lit up Strome in the Kings defensive zone. Anaheim’s Max Jones took exception, cross-checked Doughty, and was called for the minor penalty.

6 left: Looked like Kupari was slashed on the partial shorthanded breakaway — no call from the officials.

Kopitar Goal: Matt Roy’s initial blast from the point was blocked by Quinton Byfield. The former got another chance sending the puck to the front of the net. Anze Kopitar batted it out of mid-air, collected the rebound, and buried the puck past Gibson. The Ducks challenged for a high stick, but the officials determined a good goal on the ice. 1-1.

Second Period

1 in: Really nice give-and-go play between Adrian Kempe and Mikey Anderson, with the latter taking the puck to the net. Gibson turned it aside, and Kopitar had a look off the rebound on a wide-open net but sent the puck wide.

5 in: Arvidsson lost his footing in the offensive zone, leading to a partial breakaway for Terry the other way. Good job by Gavrikov to break it up before the Ducks could get an accurate shot off.

9 in: Terrific cycling for the Kings led to a near-scoring chance from Danault to Arvidsson on the backdoor. No. 33 is going to want another try at that one.

Kempe first goal: On the powerplay, Doughty fed Kempe with a pass to the right circle. The latter sent a one-timer on net, and Gibson knocked the net off the post, trying to close the gap. After video review, the officials determined that the puck crossed the line before the cage came off the post.

Moore goal: Less than one minute later, Trevor Moore was rewarded for his forechecking, creating a turnover in the Ducks’ defensive zone. A 2-on-0 chance with Arvidsson led to Moore finishing the play with his 10th of the year.

2 left: Great game from Kupari, who has stood out at both ends. He applied a heavy forecheck in the Ducks’ defensive zone, causing them to re-think their breakout and run some clock off the powerplay.

Third Period

Jones goal: Shattenkirk is rewarded for his zone keep moments before the goal, sending a shot-pass off Max Jones’ stick and past Korpisalo.

Kempe second goal: Three consecutive penalties by the Ducks created a 5-on-3 for 1:49 for the Kings. Doughty’s cross-ice pass to Kempe set him up perfectly for the one-timer, and the puck found the back of the net. Goal No. 40 for Juice.

9 left: Kempe just missed the hat trick after the centering pass found his stick in the low slot.

6 left: Great move by Byfield to skate around the defender, buy some time for himself and get a better look on net.

Zegras goal: Kempe paused after being high-sticked by Byfield, allowing an odd-man rush for the Ducks to develop. Adam Henrique found Trevor Zegras along the right wing with an open net, and the latter wasn’t going to miss from there.

4 left: Back-to-back dirty plays from the Ducks. First, Zegras’ slashing that prematurely ended his night. Then, Sam Carrick’s hit on Kaliyev.

Kempe third goal: Gibson went to the bench with 2:04 left in regulation. After the Kings gained possession of the puck, Kempe sent a loooonnnngggg shot down ice into the back of the net. Thursday marked his second career hat trick.