Anze Kopitar breaks record in frustrating Kings loss

That was the whole mood after the game. Kopitar didn't lean into the milestone. He went straight to the loss, which tells you exactly where the Kings' room is right now.

He tied Marcel Dionne at 1307 points in the second period, then passed him with his second goal of the night late in the third. That goal made it 4-4.

The problem for Los Angeles is what came next. Jack Hughes put New Jersey back in front later in the third, and the Kings left Newark with a 6-4 loss on a night that should have felt a lot bigger.

That's where Smith comes in. He has only been in charge since March 1, and this kind of finish is exactly what he's trying to stamp out.

The Kings entered Saturday at 27-23-15 with 69 points, sitting fourth in the Pacific. Edmonton was at 73 points and Vegas at 74, so these are not empty standings points disappearing into the air.

Since taking over, Smith has pushed for more pace, more forecheck pressure, and more bite around the net. The Kings showed enough push to erase deficits. They still didn't close.

The usage said plenty too. Los Angeles rolled Artemi Panarin with Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on the top line, a clear sign Smith wanted his captain in an attack-first spot on this road stop.

Kopitar came into this stretch with 27 points in 49 games, a +14 rating, and 8 penalty minutes. He had already scored Friday against the Islanders before hitting New Jersey with the biggest 2 goals of the Kings' season.

That's why his post-game quote landed. This wasn't fake modesty. It was a captain looking at a record night and seeing a team that still gave one away.

The Devils game showed both sides of the current Kings. They had enough talent to come back. They still gave up the late answer, and that's the part that sticks when the standings are this tight.

Kopitar is in his final NHL season, which only sharpens the message. He's not chasing sentimental moments. He's chasing a finish that means something in the playoff race.

So yes, the franchise just got a new all-time points leader. But the bigger development is that Kopitar's own reaction sounded like a warning shot to the bench and the room.

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