Mar 13, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) scores a goal past New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
ELMONT, NY — The Los Angeles Kings’ dominance over the Islanders continued on Friday night at UBS Arena, making New York’s playoff picture all the more tight with 16 games to go.
Riding a three-goal first-period, the Kings’ 3-2 victory ensured that the Islanders (37-24-5) stayed in the third and final automatic playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, and level on 79 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins, while only remaining two points ahead of the fourth-place Columbus Blue Jackets.
Both squads now have a game in hand over the Islanders, with all three teams in action on Saturday.
Friday night’s result was New York’s ninth loss in its last 10 games against the Kings, with that only win coming on Dec. 9, 2023.
“They’re really good structurally,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “They pack it in, and we had some great shifts, but it’s tough to get the puck through. They really do pack it in quite a bit… You really gotta work it, and I think we worked it as much as we could.”
The Islanders nearly pulled off a second-straight three-goal comeback in as many games — a pair of Emil Heineman goals pulling the hosts within one. A relentless barrage in the final 10 minutes, however, was quelled by Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper.
Los Angeles nearly had as many goals in the first period as the Islanders had shots (4) — an effort in which Lee chalked up to his side trying to be “too cute” on offense.
“Too many times, we’re trying to dance through their defense,” Lee said. “You gotta build that part in your game. This time of year, we can’t afford the turnovers that we’ve had, and they end up in the back of our net. That can’t happen right now.”
One such turnover came from defenseman Scott Mayfield at the blueline, which sprung Trevor Moore on a breakaway. He beat Ilya Sorokin blocker side 3:33 into the game to give the Kings a lead that they would never relinquish.
A Mikey Anderson shot was saved by the toe of Sorokin, but Islanders forward Casey Cizikas, who was battling in the crease with Anze Kopitar, inadvertently kept the puck in the blue paint. The Kings legend stuffed it home with no issue at the 14:07 mark.
Los Angeles got its third with 1:32 left in the opening frame when Adrian Kempe one-handed an Artemi Panarin pass over Sorokin.
Heineman got the Islanders on the board at the 10:26 mark of the second period when he deflected an Adam Pelech shot through the legs of a Kings defender and in.
He picked up goal No. 18 on the season 3:38 into the third period when he deflected a Matthew Schaefer point shot over the glove of Kuemper.
“What I like right now is that he’s starting to get chances again,” head coach Patrick Roy said of Heineman, who now has three goals in his last four games after scoring just once in his previous 16. “I feel like he’s more at the net, finishing his checks, more involved offensively, and playing well defensively… To me, I call it playoff hockey.”
For more on the Islanders, visit AMNY.com
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