Kings' Kopitar sets franchise points record with 2 goals against Devils

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Anze Kopitar moved past Marcel Dionne and into the top spot on the Los Angeles Kings career points list with two goals in a 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

The 38-year-old Slovenian forward's second goal of the game and 450th of his career against Jake Allen with 6:18 to play tied the contest at 4-4 and gave him 1,308 career points, one more than Dionne. New Jersey's Jack Hughes scored four minutes later on the power-play to put the Devils ahead to stay.

"It would have felt a lot better if we finished it off and won the game,'' Kopitar said.

Kopitar was mobbed by his teammates after the record-setting goal.

“I think everyone on this team will remember the moment regardless where they were on the ice,'' said Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, who assisted on the record-setting goal. "That was awesome. We are so happy for him.”

Devils players also lined up at center ice to shake Kopitar's hand at the game's conclusion.

“I appreciate all the battles we've gone through with the guys — with Jersey or another team,'' Kopitar added. ”It's been an honor."

Kopitar, who has played his entire 20-year career with the Kings, has 858 career assists, the most in team history. Dionne scored 550 goals with Los Angeles. Luc Robitaille leads the franchise with 557 career goals.

The Kings captain and a two-time Stanley Cup winner said he will retire after this season. Meanwhile, the Kings are in a tight battle to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

Kopitar isn't focused on retirement quite yet.

“We're right in the thick of things right now so there's not a whole lot of time to think about that,'' Kopitar added. ”It's been a good run."

Kopitar scored to tie Dionne's record at 4:14 of the second period. He had an earlier chance to set the record at the 14-minute mark of the second when his one-timer beat Allen but hit the crossbar.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) reacts after scoring against the New Jersey Devils during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) reacts after goal by Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Las Vegas Aces are set to run it back with the core group that helped them win the WNBA championship last year — the franchise's third in four seasons.

The Aces have agreed to deals with Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Jewell Loyd is finalizing a deal, according to a different person familiar with the situation.

All three people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the signings until the deals become official. None of the deals can be signed until Saturday.

The trio are free agents, along with four-time league MVP A'ja Wilson, who has said she planned on returning to the Aces.

ESPN was the first to report the deals.

Gray and Young have been there for the entire run of success by the Aces since they won their first championship in 2022. Gray, who has won four titles in her career — including one in Los Angeles — averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the Aces last year while playing in all 44 regular-season games. She was limited to 27 games a year earlier because of injuries.

Young averaged 16.5 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds for the Aces last season. Las Vegas selected her with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft.

Loyd was acquired in a trade from Seattle before last season and was a key part of Las Vegas' championship run. She averaged 11.2 points and came off the bench for the first time in her career. She helped Seattle win titles in 2018 and 2020. The six-time All-Star led the league in scoring in 2023.

This has been a busy offseason since the league and the players' union signed a transformational labor deal that saw average salaries rise nearly fourfold. Players can earn over $1 million annually for the first time in league history, which is more than four times the previous maximum salary. More than 80% of players in the league are free agents.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) and guard Jackie Young (0) look on during the second half of Game 4 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinal against the Seattle Storm, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)