Faulk gets first NHL hat trick in Hurricanes win against Kings

RALEIGH, N.C. --Justin Faulk scored the first hat trick of his NHL career, and the Carolina Hurricanes won their third in a row, 7-3 against the Los Angeles Kings at PNC Arena on Tuesday.
Faulk scored the final two goals of the first period and the opening goal of the second. He is the 10th defenseman in NHL history to score a natural hat trick.

WATCH: [All Kings vs. Hurricanes highlights]
"I never really thought about getting a hat trick," Faulk said. "I've had plenty of two-goal games and you're looking for that opportunity [for a third]. But it's pretty cool."
The Hurricanes (27-21-9) scored three power-play goals. They hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Jeff Skinner scored twice, and Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen each had three points for Carolina, which completed an eight-game homestand 5-2-1. Cam Ward made 27 saves.
Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Kings (30-21-5), who lost their second in a row. They are tied with the Anaheim Ducks, one point behind the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division.
"Totally disappointed," Kings coach John Stevens said. "Two teams fighting for a playoff spot, one team's in, one team's out. [Carolina] showed up to work and we didn't. It's pretty simple."
Jaccob Slavin gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead at 6:40 of the first period. He took a cross-ice pass from Jordan Staal, kicked the puck to his stick and lifted a backhand past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.
Faulk made it 2-0 when he took a wrist shot from inside the blue line at 8:56 after taking a pass from Justin Williams.
Faulk's second goal, on the power play at 17:43, made it 3-0. He took advantage of Kopitar breaking his stick, and scored on a slap shot from above the face-off circles.
"I just saw something we could exploit a little bit on their penalty kill on that second one," Faulk said. "The puck was coming off the stick alright. I'm not going to turn down opportunities to shoot."

Faulk completed the hat trick at 1:17 of the second period with another power-play goal from above the circles, pushing the lead to 4-0. Darcy Kuemper relieved Quick, who allowed four goals on 20 shots. Kuemper made 18 saves.
Skinner made it 5-0 at 7:42 with Carolina's third power-play goal. He faked a slap shot, moved toward the middle of the ice and sent a wrist shot over Kuemper's shoulder.
"On the power play, both units were good, obviously, and that's what got us momentum in the game," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "We've got to give the power play credit against a real elite penalty-kill unit (second-ranked in the NHL)."
Kopitar scored on the power play at 11:49 on a one-timer off a pass from Jake Muzzin to make it 5-1.
Toffoli scored his 19th of the season at 17:05 to cut Carolina's lead to 5-2. Toffoli won a battle at the top of the crease and slipped the puck inside the right post.
Torrey Mitchell redirected Kyle Clifford's centering pass at 6:43 of the third period to make it 5-3.
Skinner made it 6-3 at 14:15 on a backhand in close. Aho beat Kuemper through the five-hole on a breakaway at 16:32 for a 7-3 lead.

Goal of the game

Slavin's backhand at 6:40 of the first period.

Save of the game

Ward's save on Kopitar on a wraparound at 9:01 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Faulk's third goal, at 1:17 of the second period.

They said it

"Preparation falls on the individual. We can't expect Kopitar to carry us on his back all year. We need some guys to step up and assume some responsibility on our team, but it starts with work, quite honestly. You've got to put work boots on and you've got to be ready to work. That team works hard and they forecheck very well. They worked, we didn't, and we got the result we deserved." -- Kings coach John Stevens
"I wasn't going to stop shooting. I didn't think it all of a sudden went away. Tonight was one of those nights. I don't know if they were my best shots I've had all year. It's just nice to have [three] go in, and hopefully there will be plenty more to come." -- Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, who has seven goals this season after averaging 16 the past three seasons

Need to know

The Kings acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf and forward Nate Thompson in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for forwards Marian Gaborik and Nicholas Shore that was announced after the game. … The Kings allowed 41 shots, tied for their second-most this season. … Carolina was 3-for-5 on the power play. … Aho, in his second season, equaled his rookie assists total with 25 in his 53rd game. ... Two defensemen scored for Carolina for the first time this season.

What's next

Kings: At the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, FS-W, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Hurricanes: At the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-SE, MSG+, NHL.TV)