Kempe big reason Kings are in Stanley Cup Playoff contention

CHICAGO -- Adrian Kempe has found a home on the top line for the Los Angeles Kings and responded with the best season of his NHL career.

The 25-year-old has scored an NHL career-high 32 goals and 48 points in 72 games this season, his sixth in the League. He's a big reason the Kings are in the running for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs heading into their game at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
The Kings (39-36-10) defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak and move within two points of the second-place Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division and three ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, who are not in a playoff position.
"This year, feel like I've been a lot more confident, just having that [top line] role, shooting more, obviously scoring a lot more and I just want to keep building on that," Kempe said. "My consistency overall has been pretty high. Even though there have been games I haven't scored, my goal droughts haven't been as big in previous years. Obviously, that's something I want to keep building on for the future."
Kempe moved around the lineup more the past two seasons, mostly playing either on the second or third line. The forward also had a variety of linemates, including Trevor Moore, Quinton Byfield, Brendan Lemieux, Blake Lizotte and Gabriel Vilardi.
But with Kempe's role solidified on the top line this season with left wing Alex Iafallo and center Anze Kopitar, he became the first Kings player to score at least 30 goals in a season since Kopitar scored 35 in 2017-18. Kempe is in the final season of a three-year, $6 million contract he signed Sept. 4, 2019 and can become a restricted agent.
His production has been key for the Kings, who have dealt with several injuries. Defenseman Drew Doughty is out the rest of the regular season and playoffs after having wrist surgery Monday. He had missed 16 games with the injury, which he sustained against the Boston Bruins on March 7. Defenseman Mikey Anderson (upper body) also hasn't played since that game. Forward Dustin Brown returned Tuesday after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury.
Kopitar, who leads the Kings with 62 points (18 goals, 44 assists) in 75 games, said Kempe is comfortable with the team and it's showing in his production.
"He's obviously one of the leaders on this team and you don't score 30-plus by accident," Kopitar said. "First and foremost, he feels a lot more comfortable around here and on the ice. I can tell because he's a little bit more vocal now, as opposed to previous years. He's still on the quiet side of things, but you can tell that he's joking around more, you can hear him a little more and you can tell the difference. I think that's the comfort level. I think that's also his mentality of taking ownership of the spot and the role that he has on this team."
Iafallo and Kopitar have played together for a while, but Kempe is playing with the two consistently for the first time this season. Kempe and Iafallo are close off the ice; Iafallo was signed by the Kings as an undrafted free agent April 19, 2017, and he and Kempe were rookies in 2017-18 (Kempe played 25 games in 2016-17). They were roommates that season and sit together on the Kings charter.

"Obviously knowing each other for that long, grinding through everything, you get a certain friendship out of that and I feel like it definitely helps on the ice, communication-wise," said Iafallo, who has scored 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 73 games this season. "Knowing where each other is on the ice, face-off plays, D-zone, all that kind of stuff, it's easier just to communicate and create off each other."
A first-round pick (No. 29) by the Kings in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kempe scored between 28 and 37 points in each of his first four full seasons with Los Angeles. He has improved in various areas and said that includes learning to control his emotions. His previous NHL career high in goals was 16 in 81 games in 2017-18.
"I've always been a guy that's been kind of frustrated very easily, especially when it doesn't go as well as you want, or you don't score, stuff like that," he said. "This year, even the games I don't score, there are still things I can take with me, some positive things and then try to just leave that game behind me. That's helped me a lot in terms of getting back into the scoring sheet and getting back into playing well and keep that consistency high."
Kings coach Todd McLellan said it's not surprising that Kempe has had to go through ups and downs his first few seasons. He said he's now putting it all together.
"He's using his speed and tenacity better," McLellan said. "I'm not sure that he used it as well in the past. He'd still skate fast, but it was unproductive speed. So now that is more productive, he's not wasting energy, and I think his shot, as you start to score, I'm not sure if the shot got better but if you get more confidence in your shot you use it more. Adrian's doing that.
"When somebody's scoring at that pace, he's obviously our leading goal-scorer by a lot, guys want to get him the puck and he's confident and it all goes together. He's having a [heck] of a year, he's on his way to a [heck] of a career. There'll be some pressure on him as we go forward, but that comes with the territory. It's good pressure."
Kempe understands the pressure that comes with becoming one of the Kings' top point producers. He welcomes it.
"That's always where I wanted to be," he said. "Maybe it took a little longer than I wanted to, but right now I'm in a good spot. I'm happy where I am, very happy to be with L.A., and I'd love to have the expectations on me every night and the pressure. I know the coaches trust me out there and I have to be a leader for younger guys coming into the team. That's a great thing, and I'm very happy to be in the spot I am."