Some firsts end Kings’ thirst
Brodzinski’s first goal highlights Kuemper’s shutout as Kings end losing streak at four.
Brodzinski scores his first goal, Kuemper records his first shutout in 4-0 win.
A sea of white jerseys parted long enough for Jonny Brodzinski to help get the Kings back in the black.
Brodzinski won’t have to exaggerate how he scored his first NHL goal to his grandchildren someday. His backhand shot to the upper right corner, against Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer, was the highlight that supported Darcy Kuemper’s first shutout as a King, a 4-0 win at Staples Center that ended a fourgame losing streak.
“It’s not how I expected my first one to go in, but I’ll take it,” Brodzinski said. “I’ve imagined it in my mind for quite some time. I just thought it was always going to be a forehand shot.”
Brodzinski made a button hook turn toward the goal and skated in unimpeded to the net. It was a goal-scorer’s goal in a sluggish Saturday matinee in front of an announced crowd of 18,230, in which neither team sustained much of a serious attack. Tyler Toffoli, Andy Andreoff and Trevor Lewis also scored for the Kings, who went 1-4 in a fivegame homestand but still held first place in the Pacific Division.
“When you’ve got a case of the skids, you want to kick it in the butt as quick as you can,” Kuemper said. “Ending it is obviously a huge step.”
“Kick in the butt” was also how Brodzinski described being reassigned last month. At 24, he’s one of the talented prospects the Kings are looking at to provide scoring. Kings coach John Stevens said Brodzinski was hesitant and struggled to translate his game to the NHL, but he now sees the confidence.
“He never seemed to take a step forward until he went back to the minors,” Stevens said. “You do the work and the prep and the confidence comes with it. That was a big-time play he made tonight, but it’s kind of what we thought Jonny was capable of, so it’s good to see.”
Kuemper was impressive in the first period with successive left pad saves on Aleksander Barkov and Evgenii Dadonov. His 24 saves earned him his first shutout since 2016, against the Kings at Staples Center when he was with Minnesota.
“It always exciting to get those,” Kuemper said. “It takes a full team effort in order to get one. They were doing a lot of good things in front of me.”
The Kings managed a 1-0 lead at the first intermission despite being outshot 14-2 in the opening 18 minutes. Toffoli’s goal came on a delayed penalty and he slammed in Drew Doughty’s pass through the crease. Toffoli made a deft diagonal pass to an unmarked Andreoff in front of the net, and Andreoff converted for his first goal this season. Lewis scored an empty net goal.
One of the defenders Brodzinski skated past on his goal was former Blaine (Minn.) High School teammate Nick Bjugstad. The two were linemates back then and texted each other before the game. Brodzinski is the fifth Kings player to get his first NHL goal this season. It doesn’t surprise Bjugstad.
“The sky is the limit for him if he keeps going,” Bjugstad said. “Super-nice kid. Like I said, [it would] be nice to happen against a different team at a different point in time, but congrats to him. It’s a big one.”
TONIGHT AT VEGAS When: 5 p.m. Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas On the air: TV: FSW; Radio: 790 Update: Vegas has maintained the buzz of its debut season thanks to a 7-1 record at home. Its success comes despite a revolving door in net with five goalies. Maxime Lagace has started the last nine games, but rookie Malcom Subban was activated off injured reserve Friday.