los angeles >> Like so many who arrived in Los Angeles from a distant land, Kings forward Adrian Kempe sought a transformation from supporting cast member to marquee player.

But unlike the city’s aspiring film stars, the Swede’s path was laden with a series of hard bumps, deep bruises and trials by fire over NHL ice. They came through some lean years for the franchise and a steep ascent of the development curve that led to his stardom.

Kempe contributed a power-play assist early in Game 3 of his team’s Western Conference playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers. His second-period equalizer in Game 2, a response to two goals in 100 seconds by Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, was something of a microcosm of his progress and the Kings’ as well.

Just two seasons ago, a stretch pass that covered 150 feet of ice and banged off the end boards to set up a goal was the sort of play that torched the Kings amid a forgettable regular season rather than one that nudged them toward playoff glory. Kempe said they were saving that breakout configuration, which had some success during the season, for just the right moment of the series.

Such patience has been a virtue for the Kings, who invested a 2014 first-round pick into Kempe and saw him blossom into the organization’s top prospect, albeit during a period where they were trading futures to remain competitive after winning two Stanley Cups in three seasons.

But inconsistency plagued Kempe as he struggled, until last season when a move to Anze Kopitar’s wing helped him flourish. He slathered on 35 goals last season and followed that up with 41 this year, and that success has carried into the playoffs.

“He’s arrived, and he’s an elite player in the National Hockey League right now,” said coach Todd McLellan, lauding Kempe’s versatility. “He’s confident but not arrogant, he uses his tools on a nightly basis, and even when he’s not scoring he does a lot of good things and he’s a great player for today’s game.”

Beyond more copious and consistent production, Kempe has become more assertive, more daring, more imaginative and even more brash on the ice as he has developed the skills and united with the linemates to maximize his talents. He racked up some audacious, highlight-reel wristers to the far side and even used his fists in the season finale in a scrap with Vancouver’s J.T. Miller. Kempe’s voice has been amplified, both on the playing surface and behind closed doors.

“I’ve been chirping ever since I came into the league. My English is better now than it was in my first year though,” Kempe said. “I’m not the youngest guy on the team anymore, so I kind of have to take that next step. I’m trying to learn from my linemates and the older guys on the team; I’m just trying my best to be a leader on the ice and in the locker room.”

Fiala returns

Though his participation in practice remained limited as recently as Sunday’s morning skate, Kevin Fiala (knee) played Sunday night for the first time since April 1.

He and linemate Gabe Vilardi, who also began the series on the shelf with an injury, wasted little time in giving the Kings a taste of what they had been missing. They teamed up near the halfway point of the opening frame when Vilardi scored the first of three first-period goals for the Kings, the third of which was also set up by Fiala.

Fiala nearly became just the third different King in the past 15 seasons to pace the club in points, but perennial leader Kopitar overtook him in the final game of the season to reclaim his crown.

“Obviously, (Fiala) would have been our leading scorer, I think, if he would have been healthy,” said Viktor Arvidsson, who also scored Sunday. “He’s just a great player for our team.”