LOS ANGELES –– The Kings started 2025 just the way they spent most of 2024, defending home ice, as they won their eighth straight match at Crypto.com Arena, a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Their points percentage moved to .
844 at home, improving upon what was already the best mark in the NHL. They’re 27-5-2 at home under Coach Jim Hiller dating back to last season, good for an .824 points percentage.
The Kings also played their 12th straight game with 11 forwards and seven defensemen –– teams traditionally dress 12 and six –– moving to 8-2-2 in those games. Since the February promotion of Hiller, who’s fond of the alignment, the Kings have gone 21-4-3 when utilizing it. The Kings’ first penalty of 2025 was picked up by Anže Kopitar, who hadn’t been whistled for one all season, and their first goal of the calendar year was scored by Andre Lee, who had never scored one in his career.
Quinton Byfield would add an insurance marker and Adrian Kempe tacked on an empty-netter, which were made luxuries by Darcy Kuemper’s 31-save performance in his second shutout as a King. Backup goalie Jake Allen stopped 21 of 23 shots in defeat for the Devils. Halfway through the third period, the Kings nearly scored off a Kevin Fiala backhand from the slot during a four-on-four situation brought about by a questionable penalty against Byfield.
Though they didn’t score at that moment, they did 65 seconds later, when Byfield avenged the call by scorin.
