Kings defeat Jets to keep pace in Pacific Division race

LOS ANGELES -- Anze Kopitar, Andrei Kuzmenko and Adrian Kempe each had a goal and an assist in the Los Angeles Kings’ 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.

The Kings are 11-3-0 since acquiring Kuzmenko in a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7. He has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past seven games, and his presence has energized the top line of Kopitar and Kempe.

Kopitar has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) and Kempe has 12 (six goals, six assists) in 14 games with Kuzmenko.

“It’s really hard to believe, to be honest with you,” Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller said of Kuzmenko’s impact. “I don’t think, in our wildest dreams, could we expect him to come in and really get his -- he had the big year in Vancouver [39 goals, 35 assists in 81 games in 2022-23] -- but he really seems to have got his game back. … He’s quite a player right now.”

Trevor Moore also scored for the Kings (42-23-9), who have won six of eight. Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves.

“I think all year when we’ve been playing against the top teams, we’ve really gotten up for those games,” said Kuemper, who is 8-2-0 in his past 10 games. “We like to challenge ourselves, and those are great measuring sticks playing against a team like them. And I think the top teams bring out the best in us, make us play our best hockey, and I think that’s why we’ve had so much success.”

Los Angeles remained two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division and pulled to within five of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Cole Perfetti scored for the Jets (51-20-4), who had won three straight and seven of nine. Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves.

“They’re obviously a really good team in this building and don’t give up much, but I thought we created some chances and had our looks,” Perfetti said. “A couple self-inflicted wounds, and they capitalized on some of their chances. … Obviously, you want to get a win, but we didn’t play that bad.”

Winnipeg remained four points ahead of the Dallas Stars for first in the Central Division. Dallas has a game in hand.

The Kings scored twice in a 1:22 span in the first period.

Moore gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 8:28 of the first period, knocking down Joel Edmundson’s long pass and causing the puck to go in off the toe of his left skate.

Kopitar made it 2-0 at 9:50 on a one-timer from the right circle set up by Kuzmenko off the rush. It was Kopitar’s 300th career goal at even-strength to become the fourth Kings player to reach the mark, joining Marcel Dionne (369), Luc Robitaille (344) and Dave Taylor (304).

Perfetti cut it to 2-1 at 11:40 of the second period. He came out of the penalty box after serving Hellebuyck’s tripping minor to score on a 2-on-1 break after keeping and shooting from the right circle.

Kuzmenko extended it to 3-1 at 16:07. He poke-checked the puck away from Jets defenseman Logan Stanley at the red line and looked off Hellebuyck before scoring on a wrist shot from the left circle off the rush.

“They’re the type of team that if you make mistakes, they pounce on it,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “But they’re real good. They clog the middle of the ice. They bottle up play a lot like us. They try to take the guts of the ice away. They do a good job that way.”

Kuzmenko credited Kopitar and Kempe for helping raise his game as a defender.

“This is two superstars in the League, these are amazing players,” Kuzmenko said. “I happy to work with (them). I happy enjoying the process, enjoying the game, and I like these guys.”

Kempe scored an empty-net goal at 19:05 for the 4-1 final, his 32nd of the season.

NOTES: Jets defenseman Luke Schenn did not play because of an undisclosed injury and is day to day. … Los Angeles has won nine of its past 10 home games and is 14-1-3 in its past 18 on home ice. … Kempe recorded his 30th assist of the season on Kopitar’s goal, making him the first Kings player with at least 30 goals and 30 assists since Kopitar in 2017-18. … Edmundson set a new NHL career high with his 14th assist in 70 games.