Kings handled soundly as spiraling Jets snap 11-game skid

With a prime opportunity to get back in the win column against a last-place Jets team, the Los Angeles Kings were downed 5-1 on Friday evening at Canada Life Centre. Marking the second straight Kings loss, the squad dropped to 18-15-10, sitting fifth in the Pacific Division.

Winnipeg headed into the contest riding an 11-game losing streak, with their last win coming in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Dec. 13. The skid was the longest for the club since moving to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011. 

Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Koepke got the Jets out in front in the first, with each contributing a score to create a 2-0 cushion. Namestnikov snapped a sizeable scoring drought in the process, finding the net for the first time in 29 games.

Quinton Byfield, the lone Kings' scorer of the evening, saw the puck deflect off him and into the net after the initial shot attempt from Warren Foegele. Earning his seventh goal of the season, Byfield now has four points in his last four games.

The score also represented his second consecutive game with a point against the Jets. He had previously earned his 100th career assist in a 3-0 Los Angeles victory against Winnipeg on Nov. 4, 2025.

Forward Taylor Ward recorded his first career assist on the play in the third game of his young NHL career. It was the 27-year-old's first action on the road.

However, the Jets poured in three goals of their own during the period to pull away and establish a sizeable advantage. Jonathan Toews had the third goal for the Jets, snapping a 26-game scoring skid of his own.

Mark Scheifele closed the frame with back-to-back goals, making it 5-1. Through two periods, starting Kings' netminder Darcy Kuemper saved 11 of 16 shots before being replaced by Anton Forsberg in the third.

Kuemper dropped to 12-8-7 on the year, conceding a season-high five scores in the loss. He has failed to find the win column in two consecutive starts after the Kings came up short in Thursday's overtime loss to the Sharks.

Following a frustrating loss, Los Angeles will look to rebound on the second end of a back-to-back in Edmonton on Saturday evening. It will be the first battle between the Kings and Oilers this season. Currently holding second place in the Pacific Division at 22-16-6, Edmonton is riding a two-game win streak.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT.