Kings use special teams to power past Blue Jackets

LOS ANGELES --The Los Angeles Kings scored two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill in the third period in a 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center on Saturday.

The Kings had a 2-1 lead when Anze Kopitar made it 3-1 on a shorthanded rush at 7:44 of the third period, and Dustin Brown converted on a penalty shot at 8:43 after being hooked by Ryan Murray during a breakaway to make it 4-1.
Alex Iafallo and Jeff Carter scored for the Kings (4-8-1), who have won two of their first three games during a seven-game homestand. Jack Campbell made 26 saves, and Ilya Kovalchuk had an assist to extend his point streak to three games (two goals, four assists).
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Kings highlights]
"I thought the PK was the best it's been all year, not just because they scored but the way we got pressure on entries and not just give up the zone and allow extended zone time," Kings coach John Stevens said. "The power play went right into attack mode, scored a big goal. There was just a mindset, a 5-on-5 working mindset that carried over to special teams, and it was encouraging to see."
Zach Werenski scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (7-6-0).
"You're getting every team's best when you are a good team," Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said. "We've crossed that bridge now. Teams know we are a good team, so you're getting a team's best every time you play them. But we're not giving teams our best, so what do we expect the result to be? We'll do it, then we won't do it. We're just reactionary team right now, and it's costing us some big points."

The Kings took a 1-0 at 12:03 of the first period. With Campbell off for an extra attacker during a delayed penalty, Iafallo's sharp-angle shot from the left circle deflected off Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones and into the net.
Los Angeles had not scored in the first period in its past five games since Tyler Toffoli's goal in a 7-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Oct. 18.
Carter made it 2-0 at 10:10 of the second period on a wrist shot from the left circle. It was the fifth straight home game the Kings have scored a power-play goal (7-for-20).

The Blue Jackets pulled within 2-1 when Werenski got in behind two Kings and scored from the slot 29 seconds into the third period.
Columbus is 2-for-32 on the power play in its past nine games and has allowed three shorthanded goals in its past two games.
"It's sucking the life out of our team," Foligno said. "And it's nothing (assistant coach Brad Larsen) is doing, nothing (coach John Tortorella) is doing. It's just us. We're not executing. You look at guys, they don't even have the puck. You're watching guys, they get a pass and, boom, they just whack it away. No composure."
The Kings had allowed at least three goals in each of their previous eight games. Brown said the team got back to its defensive structure and identity, limiting the Blue Jackets to 27 shots on goal, tying their season low.
"Probably the most important thing is they had extended zone time a few shifts and we played like the Kings play in our zone," Brown said. "That's been a staple of ours for a decade, and I think we did exactly what we're known for."

They said it

"This feels new to me only because I've never experienced this Jekyll and Hyde so much. One game we can play like world-beaters and the next game we can play like slobs. I don't understand it." -- Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno
"They usually start it off, so they usually get you off on the right foot. It usually starts with a face-off win and a clear. They put good pressure on the puck. They read off each other really well and they created some offense from it tonight." -- Kings coach John Stevens on what Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown bring on the penalty kill

Need to know

It was the first time the Kings scored two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill since March 19, 2001 when Zigmund Palffy and Bryan Smolinski scored 15 seconds apart in a 6-2 home win against the Phoenix Coyotes. ... Drew Doughty had two assists, giving him eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past seven games. … Josh Anderson extended his point streak to three games (two goals, one assist) with an assist on Werenski's goal. … Kings forward Matt Luff played 9:43 in his NHL debut. ... Columbus also took 27 shots on goal in a 4-1 win at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

What's next

Blue Jackets:At the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (9 p.m. ET; PRIME, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Kings: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, PRIME, NHL.TV)