Nov. 28, 2024 00:51 AM EST

Kopitar, Rittich Lead The La Kings' Rebound For A 4-1 Win Over The Nhl-Leading Winnipeg Jets

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, right, chases the puck as Winnipeg Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov, left, and right wing Quinton Byfield vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Ryan Sun, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, right, chases the puck as Winnipeg Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov, left, and right wing Quinton Byfield vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault, left, shoots against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Colin Miller, right, controls the puck ahead of Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, center, and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ville Heinola during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi, left, controls the puck past Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault, front, scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Rittich made 13 saves in his 100th career victory, and captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist in the Los Angeles Kings' 4-1 victory over the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.

Phillip Danault and Kevin Fiala also scored, and Adrian Kempe added an empty-net goal for the Kings.

Gabriel Vilardi scored against his former team for the Jets, who have lost four of seven since their 15-1-0 start to the season. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 30 shots in the fourth game on Winnipeg's six-game trip.

Rittich was Hellebuyck’s backup for the 2022-23 Jets.

Kopitar redirected Kempe's shot from the point on the power play just 1:52 in. Danault then skated unimpeded across Winnipeg's goal mouth in the second for his second goal of the season, ending a 10-game drought.

Two minutes later, Vilardi lifted a rebound nine seconds into a power play for Winnipeg's first goal.

But early in the third, Fiala flung a puck toward the net and got credit for his eighth goal when it banked in off Haydn Fleury's skate. Los Angeles' Swiss forward ended an eight-game goal drought.

Takeaways

Jets: The offensive powerhouse struggled mightily against Los Angeles' disciplined defensive effort, managing a season-low 14 shots. Winnipeg's early-season goal production probably wasn't sustainable, but the Jets have scored just three combined goals in their four losses over the past two weeks.

Kings: A much-needed rebound performance after their humiliating 7-2 loss to cellar-dwelling San Jose.

Key moment

Former Kings forward Rasmus Kupari was awarded a penalty shot early in the second period, but Rittich stopped it comfortably with an outstretched pad.

Key stat

Winnipeg hadn't recorded fewer than 20 shots in any game this season, but the Kings excel at limiting opponents' chances.

Up next

The Jets visit Vegas on Friday, while the Kings drive down to Anaheim on Friday morning for the post-Thanksgiving Freeway Faceoff.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

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