Kings at Jets
Alex Iafallo showed glimpses of making a positive offensive impact for the Los Angeles Kings in 75 games as a rookie last season, and the center powered them to their first victory this year entering Tuesday’s road contest at the Winnipeg Jets. Iafallo scored twice in Sunday’s 4-2 triumph over Detroit, and through two games the 24-year-old center has three points -- a good start after he recorded nine goals and 25 points last season.
“We felt all along he did a lot of good things last year, (but) didn’t capitalize on some of his opportunities,” Kings coach John Stevens told reporters about Iafallo. “He’s looked like he has taken his game to another level in all areas." The Kings needed the boost after placing goaltender Jonathan Quick on injured reserve after he suffered a lower-body injury in practice Saturday, and now face a Jets team with plenty of offensive firepower but one that struggled throughout Saturday’s 5-1 loss at Dallas. Winnipeg gave up three power-play goals and allowed Dallas’ top line to account for all five goals and five assists, two days after blasting St. Louis 5-1 in the season opener. “We didn’t give ourselves a chance to get going,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media, lamenting his team having to chase the game after surrendering two first-period goals. “We were in the penalty box too much early, and not very effective on the kill at all.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE KINGS (1-0-1): Forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who returned to the NHL this season after five years in the KHL, recorded his first two assists Sunday to give him 401 in his NHL career. Center Anze Kopitar has scored in both games to pull him within eight of the 300-career goal mark, and Jack Campbell made 36 saves against the Red Wings in place of Quick. Tuesday marks the start of a four-game road trip for the Kings, who play six of their next eight away from home.
ABOUT THE JETS (1-1-0): One area of concern for Winnipeg is its undisciplined play through two games, committing nine penalties through 120 minutes. Forward Kyle Connor scored for the second time in two games and has three points with a plus-3 rating. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves against the Stars but was under pressure most of the night, as the Jets play their home opener Tuesday and begin a stretch of seven home games in eight days (they travel to Nashville on Thursday).
OVERTIME
1. Kovalchuk played his first eight NHL seasons with the Jets franchise when it was based in Atlanta, scoring 328 goals with 615 points in 594 games.
2. Winnipeg’s top line of Connor, C Mark Scheifele and F Blake Wheeler, have combined for three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating through two games.
3. Kings D Drew Doughty played in his 330th consecutive NHL game Sunday, tying Kopitar for longest streak in franchise history.