Kings end Golden Knights winning streak at five

LOS ANGELES --Sean Walker and Dustin Brown scored 51 seconds apart in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings handed the Vegas Golden Knights their first loss in six games with a 3-1 win at Staples Center on Sunday.

Cal Petersen made 41 saves, and Anze Kopitar had two assists for the Kings (13-11-6), who split the two-game set following a 4-2 loss here Friday.
"The start the other night, I think we waited for something to happen. Tonight was different," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said.

The Kings are 8-3-2 in the second of a two-game set this season.
"The start was definitely better, and obviously you want to maybe focus on it a little bit more because it's an afternoon game," Kopitar said. "I thought we did a pretty good job starting the game and then just kept rolling."
Tomas Nosek scored, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves for the Golden Knights (21-7-1), who were without forward Max Pacioretty because of a lower-body injury.
"We took 16 goals out of our lineup, it's not easy," Vegas captain Mark Stone said. "Guys got to step up. Can't just have one or two guys going every night."
Walker scored his first of the season to give the Kings a 1-0 lead at 5:58 of the second period when he backhanded in a loose puck near the left post following a scramble in the crease. Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld after video review.
On the ensuing power play for delay of game, Brown tipped in Alex Iafallo's pass to make it 2-0 at 6:49.
"I think the whole second period was their momentum," DeBoer said. "I think, even prior to them scoring, they came out in the second and just were the hungrier team. They were winning all the battles, all the races. The challenge didn't help."

Chandler Stephenson appeared to score for the Golden Knights on the power play at 2:36 of the third period, but it was determined by video review that the puck did not cross the goal line. Drew Doughty, though, was penalized for delay of game for dislodging the net, but the Kings killed off the subsequent two-man advantage.
"To come out of it unscathed, 5-on-3 for that amount of time (1:31), was desperately needed," McLellan said.
Nosek cut it to 2-1 at 16:33 of the third. Petersen made the save on his initial shot, but the rebound went off Nosek's chest and into the net.
"I don't think even in the third period we got enough of a push," Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. "They did a good job keeping us to the outside, and their goalie made big saves."
Jeff Carter scored on a breakaway set up by Andreas Athanasiou and Walker at 17:28 for the 3-1 final.
"To have [Carter] and Athanasiou execute that play and score, I'm sure it takes a lot out of the opposition," McLellan said. "It gives us a little bit of breathing space, puts them in a situation where they've got to pull the goaltender again, and just a lot more comfort."
NOTES: Kings defenseman Olli Maatta did not return after an upper-body injury sustained in the first period. With Maatta out, four Kings defensemen played at least 20 minutes, led by Doughty's 30:08. … Kopitar has six points (one goal, five assists) during a four-game point streak and has scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past nine home games. … Brown's goal was his eighth on the power play, tied for third in the NHL behind Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (10) and Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (nine).