Trocheck has 3 points, Rangers defeat Kings to end skid at 4

Vincent Trocheck had two goals and an assist for the New York Rangers, who ended a four-game skid with a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday.

Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (34-17-9), who were 0-3-1 during the skid.
Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves after being pulled in the second period of a 6-3 loss at the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
"It was a big one for us just because of the last few games, the way they've been going," Trocheck said. "We kind of went on a little bit of a slide there and needed to make sure we're bringing it back."
Jonathan Quick was pulled in the second period after allowing three goals on seven shots for the Kings (33-20-8), who are 1-2-1 on a five-game road trip that will conclude at the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Pheonix Copley allowed two goals on 14 shots in relief.
"I thought we were five or six players shy of having an opportunity to win. And I'm not talking about the goaltender," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said.

Alexis Lafreniere put New York ahead 1-0 at 14:00 of the first period, scoring from a sharp angle off a give-and-go with Kaapo Kakko.
Trocheck made it 2-0 at 2:02 of the second period when his centering pass intended for Chris Kreider redirected in off the stick of Kings defenseman Matt Roy.
Trocheck then beat Quick blocker side from the high slot in between four defenders to push it to 3-0 at 3:37.
"Whenever you get up, give yourself the momentum, you don't have to worry about digging yourself out of a hole like we've been doing a little bit lately," Trocheck said. "So to get out to a lead early was big for us."
Viktor Arvidsson cut it to 3-1 at 18:12 when he batted in the puck near the left post for a power-play goal.
Roy got the Kings to within 3-2 at 1:27 of the third period, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Phillip Danault with a wrist shot from the edge of the right circle.
Panarin quickly responded for the Rangers to make it 4-2 at 2:11. He put in his own rebound after Copley lost his balance making the initial save.
"It was just a couple tough bounces really," Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar said. "I think there's not a whole lot of stuff that we didn't like in the first period or in the second. Obviously, sometimes bounces don't go your way. We realize you've got to play for your bounces, too, and tonight it didn't go for us."
Zibanejad made it 5-2 at 5:26 on a power play. He scored his 31st goal on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Adam Fox.

Zibanejad returned to start the third after having to be helped off the ice when a slap shot by Drew Doughty hit his right ankle at 17:39 of the second.
"It's an adrenaline rush whenever you see him go down," Trocheck said. "Obviously, you don't want your star player going down, especially this late in the season, so him coming back in the third was definitely a relief."
NOTES: Quick has allowed three or more goals in 21 of 31 games this season. … Zibanejad's 18 power-play goals are second in the NHL, behind Leon Draisailt of the Edmonton Oilers (23). … Fox had two assists. It was his ninth game with multiple assists and 13th with multiple points this season. … Danault had two assists. … Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller received a match penalty and was ejected for spitting on Doughty at 16:37 of the first following a video review. … Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider dressed but did not play.