Kings Support Kopitar's Third-Period Hat Trick to Secure Season-Opening Victory Against Sabres

Thursday, October 10th, 2024

In Buffalo, Anze Kopitar netted three goals in the final period, helping the Los Angeles Kings secure a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres in their season opener.

Darcy Kuemper played a crucial role with 32 saves for the Kings, who were initially behind 1-0 before Kopitar’s impressive performance. He equalized the score just 13 seconds into the third period, clinched the lead with a power-play goal with 1:38 left, and sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

For the Sabres, Alex Tuch scored during a shorthanded breakaway, but the team remains unable to score more than once in their first three games this season.

The Kings may be experiencing offensive challenges partly because of Drew Doughty's absence; however, Kuemper's strong performance was pivotal in keeping them competitive.

The Sabres are still struggling with scoring, and their power play has not been effective so far.

A crucial moment in the game was Rasmus Dahlin's puck-handling mistake that allowed Kopitar to score his initial goal.

A key statistic highlights Kopitar’s achievement of accumulating 26 points in 18 season-opening games, marking him as the leading active player in the NHL.

Looking ahead, the Kings are set to face Boston on Saturday, while the Sabres will take on the Florida Panthers at home.

Buffalo Sabres vs Los Angeles Kings Game Stats

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