GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Alex Iafallo scored two goals, Cal Peterson stopped 22 shots and the Los Angeles Kings defeat Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Saturday night for their fourth win in a row.
The Kings have accumulated points in five straight games for five defeats.
“You lose five in a row, it’s difficult to keep the energy up while training, it’s hard to keep the energy up in the room,” said King’s defender Drew Doughtywho had two originals. “Everyone is not happy because you lose games. When you win games, everything is just more fun. ”
The Kings beat the Coyotes 3-2 on Thursday Gabriel Vilardi scored in the fourth round of a shootout. Vilardi came through again and hit Darcy Kuemper with a wrist shortly to Arizona Phil Kessel tied it.
Trevor Moore scored for Los Angeles too and Iafallo sealed it with a clean sheet.
“Arizona defended really well. They didn’t give us anything, “said King’s coach Todd McLellan. “It was a patient game. We went on to talk about it: don’t be impatient. Finally it went our way. ”
Kessel scored for the second time in a row and had an assist. Derick Brassard also scored, and Kuemper had 19 saves.
“Some guys looked tired, they weren’t thinking mentally,” said Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet. “Overall, they didn’t have many chances. They met those who made it. ”
The Kings jumped on the Coyotes with two goals in the first half on Thursday. Arizona scored two goals in the second game but wanted to start better in the rematch.
The coyotes had a good early bounce, and Peterson was tested early, almost doing the splits to put on a pad John Haydenis shot out of the slot. Arizona ended the period with a series of shots, but Peterson was sharp.
Iafallo scored a power play goal at the beginning of the second half and hit the Kuemper glove side from the left circle – not long after Arizonas Tyler Pitlick hit the post.
Brassard responded with his own power play goal, hitting from the right circle on a shot that hit King’s defenders Olli Määttä outside.
The Coyotes close the second period and open the third in the power play afterwards Conor Garland was checked twice, including one in the face of Austin beach.
Instead of taking advantage of this, Arizona gave up a shorthanded goal 52 seconds into the third half. Moore had made it, beating Kuemper after the puck hit him right in front of the Arizona defender Jakob ChychrunFloor.
Kessel tied it to a power play from the left circle through Pitlick’s screen in the middle of the third period.
Vilardi punched Kuemper with a wrist less than three minutes later to restore the kings.
“We have to be a little smarter about puck decisions, our line is generally changing,” said Brassard. “We have to learn from it.”
HAPPY DOUGHTY
Doughty has played a part in the past two weeks with one goal and six assists in five games.
Winning played a big part.
“I can definitely feel the momentum,” he said. “When I’m grumpy – on the other team – I do my best, get involved in the game and feel much better about myself.”
SHORT LEASH SHORT
Arizona’s “Short Leash Line” from Garland, Clayton Basement, Nick Schmaltz had played well since Tocchet had put them together.
The trio scored nine goals and eleven assists in a series of seven games against St. Louis and teamed up for one of the goals in their first games against the Kings.
The short leash came up briefly on Saturday evening.
“You obviously weren’t good tonight,” said Tocchet. “They weren’t good structurally and mentally, and were doing some things that they didn’t. We rely too much on that line. You won’t be great in every game. They had a rough night so we need a few other lines to include them. ”
NEXT
Kings: Monday and Wednesday evenings in St. Louis.
Coyotes: hosts Anaheim on Monday and Wednesday nights.
