Kings 3, Penguins 2: Defenseman Drew Doughty scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Martin Jones made 35 saves as visiting Los Angeles prevented Pittsburgh from securing a playoff berth.

Jeff Carter and blue-liner Alec Martinez also tallied for the Kings, who remained eight points ahead of Phoenix for third place in the Pacific Division. Jones was sensational in preserving the victory, holding the league's best power play scoreless on seven opportunities.

Chris Kunitz and Taylor Pyatt scored for the Penguins, who remained one point shy of clinching a postseason spot. Jeff Zatkoff stopped 29 shots in defeat.

Carter netted the only goal of the opening period, redirecting Marian Gaborik's shot past Zatkoff from point-blank range in the latter stages of a power-play opportunity. After Martinez and Kunitz traded tallies 34 seconds apart in the second session, Pyatt drew the Penguins even at 15:42 on a shot that caromed off Jones' shoulder and trickled over the goal line.

Doughty gave the Kings the lead for good 3:51 into the third, teeing off on a drop pass by captain Dustin Brown from well inside the blue line and beating Zatkoff low to the glove side. Brandon Sutter appeared to score the tying goal just before the midway point of the period, but it was waved off due to goaltender interference and Pittsburgh couldn't get the equalizer

GAME NOTEBOOK: Thursday marked the final game for the Kings against the Eastern Conference. They'll play six of their last eight contests against Pacific Division rivals, with the last two coming versus Calgary and Edmonton. ... Kings LW Tanner Pearson drew the second assist on Doughty's goal, his first in the NHL. The 21-year-old came into the night with two goals in 18 games. ... Penguins captain Sidney Crosby recorded his NHL-best 96th point with an assist on Kunitz's goal.