Kings defeat Capitals for 4th straight win

LOS ANGELES -- Mikey Anderson scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings won their fourth straight game with a 4-2 victory against the Washington Capitals at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.

Anderson gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead at 7:52, scoring with a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Quinton Byfield on a rush.
Adrian Kempe shot into an empty net at 19:58 for the 4-2 final.
"We want to keep building our game," Kings center Phillip Danault said. "We know we can get even better, and obviously we want to carry that into the playoffs."
Vladislav Gavrikov scored his first goal for the Kings (37-20-8), who are 9-2-1 since the All-Star break. Pheonix Copley made 20 saves.
Los Angeles is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights, who have two games in hand, for first in the Pacific Division.
"We were patient to score and we were committed to check, and those two things are pretty good traits to have this time of year," Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

Alex Ovechkin scored, and Rasmus Sandin had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (31-28-6), who had won two straight. Darcy Kuemper allowed three goals on 40 shots.
Washington is three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have three games in hand, for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"If you start looking at the big picture and trying to do the math and everything like that, obviously it can get a little daunting," Kuemper said. Win the next one and go from there."
Sandin gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 11:39 of the second period, scoring five-hole with a backhand from his knees after he whiffed on his initial shot from the slot.
"Luckily I got a little touch on it, and luckily it went in, but it didn't help us enough tonight," said Sandin, who has five points (one goal, four assists) in two games with Washington since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 28. "Still nice to get that first one out of the way, for sure."
Gavrikov tied it 1-1 at 13:18, chipping down and putting in the rebound of Kevin Fiala's shot. It was his first point in three games with Los Angeles since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
"I knew it was going to take a while, like learning the details and stuff," Gavrikov said. "I feel more comfortable every game."

Danault put the Kings back in front 2-1 at 19:27 when his redirection of Viktor Arvidsson's shot bounced over Kuemper's left pad.
Ovechkin tied it 2-2 at 2:31 of the third period with a one-timer from the top of the left circle during a 5-on-3 power play.
"I didn't do too much," said Sandin, who had the primary assist on the play. "That's his signature spot."
NOTES: Kempe's goal was his 30th of the season. … Forward Zack MacEwen was minus-1 in 5:52 of ice time in his Kings debut. He was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. … Kings defenseman Sean Durzi left the game following a hit from T.J. Oshie in the third period. McLellan said Durzi was being evaluated for a possible head injury. … Copley is 20-4-2 in 29 games (28 starts) this season. He is the fastest goalie to win 20 games in a season in Kings history, passing Jonathan Quick (30 games in 2015-16).