Joel Edmundson (2 targets), Kings maintain off Utah Hockey Membership

NHL: Preseason-Los Angeles Kings at UtahSep 23, 2024; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Membership ahead Clayton Keller (9) shoots towards Los Angeles Kings goaltender Carter George} (40) throughout a shootout at Delta Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Grey-Imagn Photos

Joel Edmundson scored the primary two targets in his brief Los Angeles Kings profession to assist the hosts beat the Utah Hockey Membership 3-2 in a Saturday matinee.

The 31-year-old defenseman, who signed a four-year, $15.4 million cope with the Kings in July, loved the primary two-goal recreation of his profession. He scored 29 targets in his first 536 regular-season video games.

It ended up being an enormous day for Kings’ blueliners, who accounted for all three targets as Los Angeles received for the fourth time in its final 5.

Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, enjoying for the primary time in almost two weeks, completed with 23 saves. Goalie Connor Ingram had 20 stops for Utah, which misplaced its third straight.

After a scoreless first interval, Brandt Clarke put the Kings forward with 12:09 left within the second on a power-play aim. His shot from past the faceoff circle hit off Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev’s stick, and that deflection allowed it to flutter previous Ingram.

Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala assisted on the 21-year-old Clarke’s first aim of the season and third in 34 profession video games.

Edmundson doubled the Kings’ lead with 6:50 left within the interval. His first aim got here after Anze Kopitar received a scrum in entrance of the Utah internet and hit the tape of the defenseman’s stick as he crashed the slot.

Kopitar earned his 1,220th profession level, good for forty fifth on the NHL’s all-time scoring checklist. Quinton Byfield additionally notched an help.

Clayton Keller completed a give-and-go with Sergachev at 4:05 to place Utah on the board. He beat Kuemper from the left faceoff circle. Nick Schmaltz additionally assisted on the aim.

Kempe and Clarke assisted on Edmundson’s second, which got here 69 seconds into the third. He ripped a slapshot from the blueline that beat Ingram by means of visitors.

Utah wouldn’t go away, although. Logan Cooley, who scored 20 targets final season as a rookie with Arizona, acquired the guests again inside one after beating Kuemper within the crease halfway by means of the third. Michael Kesselring and Dylan Guenther assisted on the 20-year-old’s first of the season.

–Area Stage Media