DETROIT -- The Los Angeles Kings scored a goal early and a goal late, and that was all they really needed Thursday night.

Tyler Toffoli recorded two goals and an assist to lead the Kings to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Before Toffoli's goals, which came in the third period, defenseman Derek Forbort scored 21 seconds into the game and Nic Dowd snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal with 17 seconds left in the second period for the game-winner.

"We got a big goal when we needed one, and we got a big save when we needed one," Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter said. "It was no different from the way we've been playing."

The Kings lost three of their previous four (1-2-1) and were playing the second game of a nine-game road trip.

"We were good all night, and even when we took penalties, we were good on the kills," Toffoli said.

The Kings killed all four of Red Wings power plays.

Los Angeles also snapped a seven-game losing streak in Detroit. Dustin Brown had two assists, and Kings goalie Jeff Zatkoff made 17 saves.

"The guys played really well from start to finish," Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty said. "I was really impressed with the way we played the third period. We didn't hold back and got a couple of goals."

Zatkoff said he had an easy night.

"I was pretty much a spectator tonight." He said. "The guys did all the hard work and didn't leave me much to do. "

Said Detroit's Gustav Nyquist: "We just can't seem to find a way to get put pucks on net."

Defenseman Mike Green scored the Red Wings, who are 2-9-3 in their past 14 home games and 0-3-1 in the first four games of a five-game homestand. They scored one goal or none in all four games.

Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard stopped 27 shots.

"I thought that first goal, it wasn't good for, us but it happened," Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "I don't think it was a mistake by us or anything. It was a point shot, goalie got screened and it went in. I thought after that, our effort was better today than it was last game. So we didn't get as many shots probably that we wanted to or didn't get credited enough shots that we probably wanted to. I thought we spent more time in their end creating more stuff."

Toffoli made it 3-1 with 6:50 left on his first goal of the game. Toffoli broke in off left wing, swept across the top of the crease and tucked the puck inside the right goal post, past Howard, on the forehand.

Toffoli added an empty-net goal with 3:34 left. It was his seventh goal.

Nyquist hit the goal post almost 10 minutes into the third period.

"You'd like to see those go in, but we have to create more chances," Nyquist said.

Dowd gave the Kings (15-12-2) a 2-1 lead with 17 seconds left in the second period. He put in his own rebound for his third goal of the season.

Howard denied Toffoli on a breakaway after Toffoli came out of the penalty box, about 1:30 into the second period.

Forbort gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game. His screened shot from the left point sailed over Howard's left shoulder. It was Forbort's second goal.

Green tied it for Detroit (13-14-4) at 7:13 of the first period. He put in a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle, converting a backhand pass from Luke Glendening out of the left corner. It was Green's seventh goal.

Los Angeles outshot Detroit 11-2 in the first period, 31-18 overall.

NOTE: Detroit D Jonathan Ericsson returned after missing three games with back spasms. He replaced D Alexey Marchenko in the lineup. Marchenko aggravated a shoulder injury Tuesday in the Red Wings' 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. ... Los Angeles C Anze Kopitar failed to record a point, leaving him one shy of 700 for his career. ... Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill on the rough homestand: "We've got to find a way to score some goals and win some games. We're not playing badly, but we have to put the puck in the net." ... The Kings play at Pittsburgh on Friday. The Anaheim Ducks visit Detroit on Saturday.