KINGS 4, DUCKS 2: Justin Williams recorded a goal and an assist during a three-goal first period and visiting Los Angeles went on to defeat Anaheim for its third straight win.
Defenseman Alec Martinez, Anze Kopitar and Mike Richards also scored, blue-liners Matt Greene and Drew Doughty each notched two assists and Jonathan Quick made 18 saves as the Kings climbed within one point of idle Colorado for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles got on the board just 2:40 into the contest as Martinez beat Jonas Hiller with a wrist shot from the left point for his first goal since Nov. 12 against Minnesota.
Kopitar doubled the lead midway through the opening period with a shot from the left faceoff circle that found the top left corner of the net. Kopitar has recorded at least one point in eight of his last nine games.
Williams made it 3-0 with eight seconds remaining in the session.
Doughty grabbed a loose puck in his own zone after Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was inadvertently tripped by teammate Sheldon Brookbank and raced down the ice on a 2-on-1. Doughty made a backhand pass from the left circle to Williams, who converted from the doorstep for his sixth goal in eight contests.
Cam Fowler, who also had an assist, beat Quick with a one-timer from the blue line during a power play early in the second to get Anaheim within two. Fellow defenseman Luca Sbisa scored less than four minutes into the third to cut the deficit to one, but Richards scored into an empty net in the final seconds to end his 25-game drought and seal the victory.
Teemu Selanne had two assists and Hiller stopped 39 shots for the Ducks, who have lost seven of 10.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Martinez had gone 23 games without a goal. ... Kopitar has registered five tallies in his last eight contests. ... Anaheim's Andrew Cogliano played in his 400th career game. ... Hiller extended his franchise record by making his 31st consecutive start. ... The Kings won the season series against the Ducks, 5-1. ... Anaheim had its three-game home winning streak snapped. ... Reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry returned to the Ducks' lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury. ... Los Angeles improved to 83-0-6 in its last 89 contests when leading after two periods.
Los Angeles | Anaheim | |
Justin Williams 2 | Points | Cam Fowler 2 |
Justin Williams 1 | Goals | Cam Fowler 1 |
Drew Doughty 2 | Assists | Teemu Selanne 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Cam Fowler 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Jonathan Quick .900 | Save Percentage | Jonas Hiller .929 |
Jonathan Quick 18 | Saves | Jonas Hiller 39 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Los Angeles | 43 | 4 | 0-3 | 2-3 | 8 | 32 |
Anaheim | 20 | 2 | 1-3 | 3-3 | 8 | 27 |