The key facts

  • The Kings beat the Capitals 5:2; Panarin — a goal and two assists, Kempe — a brace
  • Ovechkin is scoreless for the fourth straight game; including playoffs he has 1,007 goals versus Gretzky's 1,016
  • Sources differ on Los Angeles's standings: 7th place in the Pacific Division (Life.ru) or 15th in the West (Gazeta.Ru)

Course of the game

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Washington Capitals 5:2 in an away game of the NHL regular season at Capital One Arena. The start favored the hosts: already in the first period Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson (in Gazeta.Ru's coverage — Hudson) put Washington ahead by two goals. Shortly before the intermission the Kings got back into it: first Adrian Kempe scored, and 31 seconds later Artemi Panarin tied the score.

Decisive third period

In the third period the visitors scored three goals. Eric Gustafsson recorded the game-winner, then Kempe completed his brace on an assist from Panarin, and Scott Laughton (per Gazeta.Ru — Lauton) sealed the final result with a goal into an empty net. For Washington, Leonard and Hutson/Hudson scored.

Panarin's and Ovechkin's statistics

For the 34-year-old Panarin this goal was his fourth of the season: in seven games he has recorded seven points — four goals and three assists. According to Life.ru, he helped the Kings earn their first win of the new season. The 41-year-old Washington captain Alexander Ovechkin went without a point for the fourth consecutive game — his last goal came on October 11 against Seattle. According to Gazeta.Ru, he played 16 minutes 21 seconds of ice time (4:29 on the power play), took two shots, delivered two hits and finished with a plus-minus of '-1'. Ovechkin still needs one assist to reach the club record of Nicklas Backstrom (762 assists). In the pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record, he has 1,007 goals including playoffs versus the Canadian's 1,016.

Standings and upcoming games

Sources assess Los Angeles's position differently: Life.ru writes about four points in seven games and seventh place in the Pacific Division, while Gazeta.Ru lists 15th place in the Western Conference. Washington, with ten points after nine games, is fourth in the Metropolitan Division according to Life.ru, and ninth in the East according to Gazeta.Ru. On October 23 the Kings will play away against the New York Islanders (start at 2:30 MSK), and on October 25 Washington will host the Buffalo Sabres (2:00 MSK).