By JIM DIAMOND The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Kings were not going to squander a third-period lead this time.
Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves for his first shutout of the season (32nd of his career), helping the Kings beat the Nashville Predators, 3-0, on Monday night.
Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist and Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings, who had failed to protect a two-goal lead in the third period of a shootout loss to Chicago on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings held Nashville to just three third-period shots on goal, the first coming with 3:55 remaining and goaltender Juuse Saros pulled for an extra attacker. The Kings, who outshot the Predators 12-3 in the final period, have won two of their last three games.
Saros made 24 saves for the Predators, who fell to 1-2-1 in their last four games.
Kopitar opened the scoring with 6:36 remaining in the opening period. Saros denied the Kings captain’s first shot, but Kopitar collected the rebound below the goal line and banked it off the netminder’s skate.
Fiala, a former Predator, made it 2-0 35 seconds into the third.
The Predators continue their struggle to score goals. Nashville’s opponents have scored first in nine of 12 games this season. The Predators entered Monday 26th in the NHL with 2.64 goals per game.
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Just 1:11 into the second period, Kuemper denied Colton Sissons’ backhand shot from the low slot to preserve a one-goal lead.
Kuemper improved to 7-2-3 in 13 appearances against Nashville. Three of those wins have come via shutout.
UP NEXT
The Kings play at Minnesota on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT