Kings 4, Blue Jackets 2
Anze Kopitar recorded his second career hat trick and Jonathan Bernier made 32 saves as the visiting Los Angeles Kings held off the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, on Friday.
Justin Williams added an insurance tally late in the third and assisted on two of Kopitar’s goals for the Kings, who moved from the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference into a four-way tie for the fourth spot with Chicago, Phoenix and Calgary.
Kopitar’s third tally of the game, and 24th of the season, came after Los Angeles killed off a penalty, when he jumped out of the box and received a long pass from Dustin Brown. Kopitar skated in untouched and switched it to the forehand to stuff it past Steve Mason’s outstretched right leg.
Kopitar gave the Kings the lead when he tipped in Jack Johnson’s shot on the power play at the 8:08 mark of the first and snapped a 1-1 tie later in the period when he was in the right position again, tipping in Drew Doughty’s blast from the slot.
Scottie Upshall and Derick Brassard scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost seven straight to fall out of the playoff race.