The Los Angeles Kings maintained their positive road trip with a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday, with Drew Doughty contributing three points and Artemi Panarin helping his team secure a third victory in four games.
Los Angeles found the net twice within the first five minutes and controlled the majority of the game, moving to 3-5-2 overall and 3-1-0 on their five-game road swing. The Kings will wrap up their trip against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Drew Doughty powers Kings past Rangers
Doughty netted his first goal of the season and chipped in two assists, marking his first three-point outing since February 22, 2025. The veteran blueliner acknowledged it had been a while since he had such a productive evening.
Taylor Ward opened the scoring at 1:15 of the first period in his season debut, capitalizing on a breakaway after a superb pass from Doughty. Brandt Clarke then made it 2-0 at 4:52, scoring on a delayed penalty following a play involving Joel Armia and Scott Laughton.
J.T. Miller cut the lead to 2-1 at 13:01 when the puck deflected in off his right skate. But Doughty restored the two-goal advantage with a one-timer from the point at 17:32, sending Los Angeles into the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.
Doughty emphasized the importance of bouncing back immediately after conceding. He referenced the mentality of the top teams he has played with and against, noting that avoiding a drop in confidence after giving up a goal could help the Kings go far.
Artemi Panarin helps Kings establish a big lead
Los Angeles widened its lead early in the second period when Panarin scored on the power play just 90 seconds after the restart. His shot from the left face-off circle beat Dylan Garand to make it 4-1 and raise his team-leading goal total to seven.
Mikey Anderson added another at 6:54, gathering the puck after an offensive-zone face-off and firing a slap shot past Garand. The goal gave the Kings a four-goal cushion and left New York with a steep uphill battle.
Adam Fox answered for the Rangers at 13:05, scoring from the point on the power play to make it 5-2. It was the defenseman’s first goal of the season and came in his 500th NHL game.
Tye Kartye brought the score to 5-3 with a six-on-five goal at 16:08 of the third period, but Joel Edmundson sealed the outcome by scoring into the empty net 29 seconds later. Edmundson also added an assist, while Alex Laferriere finished with two assists. Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves for Los Angeles.
Rangers suffer first home loss of the season
New York’s defeat was its third straight loss and its first at Madison Square Garden this season, ending a streak of six home wins without a regulation defeat.
James Reimer made his first start after signing a one-year contract with the Rangers on Sunday. However, the 38-year-old allowed three goals on eight shots in the opening period before being replaced by Garand at the start of the second. Garand stopped 15 shots in his ninth consecutive game.
Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan admitted that his team had not been ready from the opening face-off. He said the players needed to take individual responsibility for their preparation and acknowledged that Reimer had been put in a tough spot without enough time to prepare.
Miller also criticized the team’s recent performances, saying New York had not been playing its typical style of hockey. Sullivan’s side now faces the challenge of fixing those issues after a disappointing stretch that has seen its early-season momentum fade.
Kings focus on final road game
Kings head coach Peter Laviolette was happy with how his players approached the game, praising their pace, decision-making, and attacking mindset. The win brought Los Angeles to one point below .500 after a difficult start to the season.
Laviolette also stressed the importance of the upcoming matchup with Chicago, noting that a fourth win on the road trip would give the team a 4-1 record away from home. He believes there is still plenty to play for as the Kings aim to build on their recent improvement.
Anderson echoed his coach’s view, saying the players were pleased with the trip so far but had a chance to make it even better in the final game.
Los Angeles will now look to carry its improved form into Tuesday’s game, while Monday’s performance offered encouragement through contributions throughout the lineup. All 18 Kings skaters on the ice recorded at least one point on a Los Angeles goal.