Anze Kopitar scored two goals in the LA Kings' away game against New Jersey, breaking Marcel Dionne's nearly 40-year-old club record for total points, according to multiple reports. Kopitar has announced he will retire after this 20th season, and after his last regular-season home game, he gave an emotional speech to the home crowd. The LA Kings lost the game against New Jersey 6-4, and with the defeat, they lost the last wild card spot in the Western NHL standings to San Jose, multiple reports indicate.
Whether the Kings will make the playoffs despite losing the wild card spot remains uncertain. Teammate Brandt Clarke said everyone in the team will remember the moment when Kopitar scored the record-breaking goal, according to multiple reports. Kopitar has accumulated 1,314 points in 1,518 games, including 452 goals, multiple reports show.
It feels like an honor, of course.
In the Kings-Devils game, Jesper Bratt assisted on one of Devils' goals, and Adrian Kempe assisted on one of Kings' goals, according to multiple reports. The exact date of Anze Kopitar's final NHL game if the Kings do not make the playoffs is not confirmed. Elsewhere in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings lost to Dallas in overtime, despite contributions from Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond, who helped secure a point in the game, multiple reports indicate.
Nils Lundkvist was involved in the buildup to one of Stars' goals, according to multiple reports. The Pittsburgh Penguins mounted a comeback win, coming back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 against Mammoth in Salt Lake City, multiple reports show. The Penguins are missing Sidney Crosby due to injury and Evgeni Malkin due to suspension, with the specific injury for Crosby and the exact reason and duration for Malkin's suspension not disclosed.
I imagine it would have felt better if we had won. We are in the middle of the race so there isn't much time to think about personal records.
Erik Karlsson had two assists, Rickard Rakell had one assist, and Kevin Stenlund had one assist for the home team, according to multiple reports. Kopitar's career journey includes coming to the NHL from Södertälje SK and playing for Mora IK during the lockout in the early 2010s, according to multiple reports. The specific terms of his retirement plans, such as any post-playing roles or ceremonies, have not been announced.
From the depths of my heart, thank you to all of you.
Thank you for supporting us through the good and the bad and you have always been there and had our backs. We will try to do everything to come home for a few games in the playoffs.
But from the depths of my heart thank you to all of you. This has been my home for 20 years. Thank you to the organization and teammates, coaches and supporters. Thank you for being with me the whole way.
I thought about it the whole afternoon but I just got a blackout. I don't remember what I said.