Brandt Clarke finished it in overtime, but Thursday night belonged to Artemi Panarin.
Panarin scored twice in the first period, Darcy Kuemper stopped 41 shots, and the Kings held off the Islanders 3-2 on Long Island to keep their road trip moving in the right direction. Clarke ended it 2:43 into overtime for his second goal of the season, giving Los Angeles its second straight win after finally breaking through two nights earlier.
Panarin got Los Angeles on the board at 5:51 of the first, beating Islanders backup netminder Semyon Varlamov from a sharp angle. He struck again at 16:37 to push the Kings ahead 2-0 before intermission, and both goals drew loud boos from the UBS crowd when his name was announced.
That reaction made sense. Panarin spent seven seasons piling up points for the Rangers before joining the Kings in a late-season trade, and he had already scored his first Los Angeles goal against the Islanders in a 5-3 home win on March 5.
The Russian forward, who turns 35 on Oct. 30, has now scored in all five Kings road games. Luc Robitaille was the last Los Angeles player to do that, back in October 1999.
The Kings had a chance to make it 3-0 midway through the second when Adrian Kempe was awarded a penalty shot, but Varlamov turned him away. The Islanders answered shortly after, with rookie Victor Eklund scoring at 16:37 of the second to cut the lead to one.
New York kept pushing, and defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied it with his first goal of the season at 7:06 of the third.
Kuemper kept Los Angeles in the game from there, and the Kings eventually got the finish they needed in overtime.
The result also extended Los Angeles’ success in Long Island. The Kings are now 9-0-1 in their last 10 visits there, and they kept that run intact on a night that also brought Peter Laviolette back to the New York area.
Now behind the Kings bench, Laviolette coached the Rangers for two seasons before being let go after New York missed the playoffs in 2024-25. The 61-year-old also coached the Islanders early in his career more than two decades ago.
Los Angeles came in after Tuesday’s 5-2 win at Washington, where Panarin posted a goal and two assists. The Kings were 1-4-2 before that victory, but they’ve now picked up where they left off.
In Other News...
Kings Face Another Forward Depth Test With Jared Wright Back
The Kings are leaning on familiar organizational depth again, with Jared Wright recalled from the Ontario Reign to give the club another forward option after recent injuries thinned the lineup. The move restores Los Angeles to a full 23-man active roster, a small but important reset for a team that has already had to keep one eye on the AHL for reinforcements this season.
Wright has been bounced between Los Angeles and Ontario multiple times, and his return figures to come with the same kind of practical assignment he has handled before. After appearing in one NHL game earlier this season, he is expected to fit into a bottom-six role if he gets into the lineup, giving the Kings a depth piece they know and have leaned on before. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Will Be Saddened By News About Former Forward Ron Duguay
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Duguay spent 499 games with New York and finished among the franchises top goal scorers, leaving behind a lasting imprint on one of the leagues most storied teams. Even for Kings fans, the announcement resonates because it serves as a reminder of how many familiar names from that era shaped the NHLs identity, and how quickly those memories can turn into tributes. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Fans Should Watch This Defense Market Twist Closely
Scott Mayfields situation in New York is the kind of defense-market wrinkle that always gets attention around the league, especially for teams looking for experienced help without having to pay full freight in a shallow market. The Islanders blueliner still has three years left on his deal at a $3.5 million cap hit, and his no-movement clause this season only adds another layer to a situation that has already been complicated by the fact he has been healthy scratched in recent games.
For the Kings, the name that really sharpens the focus is Drew Doughty. The longtime Los Angeles defenseman is heading toward unrestricted free agency, and there is at least some movement behind the scenes as he now has an agent after previously representing himself. He has also made clear he would like to stay in Los Angeles on a team-friendly deal, while acknowledging the club may ultimately decide to go in a different direction, which is exactly why any trade chatter involving defensemen feels a little more meaningful right now. [Read more 🡒]