Cates scores go-ahead, short-handed goal to help Flyers defeat Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Noah Cates scored the go-ahead, short-handed goal in the third period to help the Philadelphia Flyers win consecutive games for the first time in nearly two months, 4-2 against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

Cates made it 3-2 at 13:01 with a wrist shot from the right point through traffic. It was his first NHL short-handed goal in 53 career games.
"I just wanted to hop up and kill time," Cates said. "We had a couple of drivers go to the net, and I sifted one through a screen or whatever. It was a big goal for us. And like I said, just killing those power plays can give us momentum, and if we put one in the back of the net, that's huge for us."
Owen Tippett and Scott Laughton each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (13-17-7), who had gone 23 games without two straight wins since defeating the Ottawa Senators on the road on Nov. 5 and the St. Louis Blues at home on Nov. 8. Samuel Ersson made 27 saves.
"We may not do the right things at certain times, and may have struggles here and there, but we play hard," Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. "And I think if you continue to do that, you find a way to get some results."

Phillip Danault scored for the third straight game to extend his point streak to seven games for the Kings (21-13-6), who had their seven-game point streak end (6-0-1). Jonathan Quick made 19 saves.
"It felt like we could never get it going all night," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "We had spurts of good play, and then we'd fall off a little bit, so we probably got what we deserved tonight."
Adrian Kempe put the Kings ahead 1-0 at 9:46 of the first period with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Drew Doughty on a 5-on-3 power play.
Laughton tied it 1-1 at 12:15 with his own one-timer from the right circle on a power play.

Los Angeles finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Philadelphia was 1-for-3. It was the 10th straight game in which the Kings have allowed a power-play goal.
"The pop, the execution, the drive that we've been playing with for a long time wasn't there for whatever reason," McLellan said. "And then the moments came into play. We gave up a power-play goal, we gave up a 'shortie,' and I can't remember the last time our power play really let us down like it did tonight."
Danault put Los Angeles back in front 2-1 at 13:12 of the first with a slap shot glove side from the left circle off a rush. He has nine points (five goals, four assists) during his point streak.
Tippett tied the game 2-2 at 9:02 of the second period, beating Quick at the near post with a wrist shot from the right circle.
After Cates put the Flyers ahead, Travis Konecny shot into an empty net at 19:33 for the 4-2 final. He has nine points (six goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak.
"I think the energy stayed high," Tippett said about Philadelphia allowing the opening goal for the 26th time. "We knew we've played and come back in that position before. … We knew if we stayed 5-on-5 and kind of used our pace and kept our energy we were going to be all right."
NOTES: Kings defenseman Alexander Edler played in his 1,000th NHL game. He played 925 games during 15 seasons with the Vancouvers Canucks, and 75 games in two seasons with Los Angeles. … Danault's point streak is tied for his longest in the NHL. ... The Flyers are 10-11-5 when the opponent scores first. … Philadelphia defenseman Tony DeAngelo had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, five assists).