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.
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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)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled on Saturday that a Democratic lawmaker is entitled to participate in a Kennedy Center board meeting to discuss President Donald Trump's plan to close the performing arts center for two years of renovations.
But the judge is not forcing the board to let Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member through her position in Congress, vote at Monday's session.
She sued to preclude the Trump administration from excluding her from the meeting where board members are expected to decide whether to approve the Republican president's proposal to shutter the center during the construction project.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper concluded that the board must give Beatty documents about the closure and renovation plans because withholding that information before the vote would prevent her from doing her job as a trustee. She must also be allowed to speak at the meeting, he said.
“The Court finds, however, that Beatty has not carried her burden as to her right to vote, at least at this very early stage,” Cooper said. The judge said allowing her to participate and engage in deliberations means “the marginal harm to her from not voting is much less, as she will be able to lodge her objections on the record and have the opportunity to persuade her colleagues of her position.”
Kennedy Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi said the center "will abide by the court’s ruling and is happy to provide information demonstrating the need for closure and renovations.”
There was no immediate response from Beatty to requests for comment on the ruling.
After Cooper heard arguments Thursday, Beatty told reporters she went to court to stand up for the rule of law and democracy.
“I want to know where your money — our money — is going,” she said outside the courthouse.
Beatty's lawyer, Nathaniel Zelinsky, said the White House has engaged in a pattern of trying to stifle dissent at meetings like the one scheduled for Monday.
“We're not asking for something unusual,” he told the judge. “It's my friends on the other side you are asking you to deviate from the norm.”
Cooper pressed Justice Department lawyer William Jankowski to explain why the administration balked at providing Beatty with details of its plans for the meeting.
“Why not just give her the information?” the judge asked. “How is the government harmed?”
Jankowski said the information — possibly a work in progress — should be provided to Beatty and other meeting participants by Monday.
“An action isn't final until it's final,” he told Cooper.
Trump paid scant attention to the Kennedy Center during his first term, breaking with tradition and skipping all of the annual honors awards programs after some of those being honored in 2017, Trump's first year as president, threatened to boycott if he participated in the festivities.
But he has shown a much higher level of interest than any other recent president in the performing arts center's operations after he returned to office in January 2025. Trump named loyal supporters such as Attorney General Pam Bondi and longtime aide Dan Scavino to the board to replace members he had not appointed, and the reconstituted board subsequently elected him as chairman.
Trump involved himself in the selection of artists to be recognized as 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees and hosted the program. He has complained about the building's appearance and secured $257 million from Congress for the Kennedy Center in a tax cut and spending bill he signed into law last summer. Richard Grenell, the ally Trump appointed as the center's president, has criticized the Kennedy Center's finances. Trump announced on Friday that Grenell will step down from his post and be succeeded by Matt Floca, who manages the Kennedy Center’s facilities operations. The moves are expected to be finalized at the board's Monday meeting.
The building has fallen on hard times since Trump stepped up his involvement in its operations. Numerous artists have canceled performances and attendance has dropped off.
In December, the board voted to add Trump's name to the institution and by the next day it was reflected on the building's exterior, sparking outrage from some Kennedy family members.
In February, the president announced on social media that he was closing the Kennedy Center on July 4 for two years for renovations, subject to board approval.
FILE - Ric Grenell, former Acting Director of National Intelligence, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, speaks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - A woman walks outside The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts on Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)
