Kempe Scores Hat Trick as Kings Defeat Sharks
Adrian Kempe completed a three-goal game as the Kings beat the San Jose Sharks 7-2 at Crypto.com Arena.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Hockey
Adrian Kempe scored a hat trick as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 7-2 on November 4. Kempe returned to the lineup after sitting out a game with an undisclosed illness.
Why it matters
The win came after the Kings lost 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres in Kempe's absence, and his three goals gave Los Angeles a 5-1 lead. Kempe's multi-goal performance also moved him into a tie for ninth in Kings hat tricks.
Kempe scored at 1:23 of the first period and completed his hat trick at 15:51 of the second period, with the Kings' 5-1 lead coming after his third goal. His 37th career multi-goal game is the most by any Kings player since Dustin Brown's 36, though the illness that sidelined him earlier remains undisclosed.
The players
Adrian Kempe
Swedish right winger and alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings, selected by the club in the first round of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
San Jose Sharks
NHL franchise based in San Jose, California, and the opponent Los Angeles defeated 7-2.
The details
Kempe scored 1:23 into the game on a breakaway wrist shot that beat Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov to his left stick side. He added a one-timer from the right circle on a pass from Erik Gustafsson, then completed the hat trick at 15:51 of the second period on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Alex Laferriere.
Timeline
October 31: Kempe returned to the lineup against the Sharks after missing one game.
November 4: Kempe scored a hat trick as the Kings beat the Sharks 7-2 at Crypto.com Arena.
November 12: The Kings host the New York Islanders at home.
Season Trajectory
Kempe's performance pushes him past Dustin Brown's 36 multi-goal games into ninth place in Kings history, a franchise milestone that reflects his sustained scoring output. The result also lifts Los Angeles in the early-season standings after a recent loss to Buffalo.
Kempe's hat trick is a fantasy-relevant performance for managers holding him on their rosters. The Kings' 7-2 result also keeps Los Angeles in contention as they prepare for their next home game against the Islanders.
The takeaway
Kempe's three-goal game shows how one performance can shift a team's momentum after a close loss. Fans tracking the Kings should watch how Los Angeles responds to the Islanders at home next.
What happens next
The Kings host the New York Islanders at home on November 12.
Further reading
Explore more Kings coverage in Los Angeles Hockey for context on the team's current form.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Culver City Observer.
