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 The Kings routed the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 before a sellout crowd of
18,230 at Staples Center.
Centers Tyler Toffoli, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter and left winger
Tanner Pearson each scored a goal for the Kings (1-1-1), who lost to
the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes to open the season. The
Jets (1-2-0) fell for the second time in as many nights.
"I think we were playing a lot more connected than we did the first
two games and obviously not giving up as much," said Kopitar, who
registered his first goal of the season. "Penalty kills were pretty
solid today. I thought our shot-blocking ability was better, and
it's going to have to continue to be like that."
Kings goalie Martin Jones stopped 29 shots. Winnipeg netminder
Michael Hutchinson saved 10 of 13 shots before being replaced by
Ondrej Pavelec early in the second period. Pavelec allowed one goal
and made 17 saves.
"I think it's huge to get the first (win) of the year and start our
homestand on a good note," Toffoli said.
Drew Doughty had two assists, allowing him to pass Marty McSorley
for fifth all time in assists among Kings defensemen with 164.
Toffoli, Carter and Pearson also had an assist apiece. Carter's goal
gave him 100 points in his Los Angeles career.
The line of Carter, Pearson and Toffoli combined for six points and
registered a plus-8 rating. In the past two games, the line has
accounted for nine points and a plus-14 rating.
"I think the chemistry comes with hard work, and Jeff is very easy
to play with," Toffoli said. "Obviously, he's one of the best
players in the league. I personally think Tanner and myself feed off
of him and we have to skate hard and keep up with him and make plays
and score goals."
Toffoli gave the Kings a 1-0 lead, cashing in a rebound off a miss
by Doughty at 6:18 of the first period.
Kopitar made it 2-0 by gathering a loose puck and scoring in front
of the Jets' net after an attempt by right winger Marian Gaborik at
10:58 of the first.
Pearson's unassisted goal at 2:03 of the second period gave Los
Angeles a 3-0 advantage. At that point, Hutchinson was pulled for
Pavelec.
"I thought we were playing well enough to come back in the game,"
Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said of his decision to yank Hutchinson.
"I liked some of the saves. I wanted to make sure that if we were
going to get one or two to go that I gave us a chance to do it, but
certainly L.A. is not an easy team to do that against."
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Carter punched in a miss by Toffoli for a 4-0 cushion for the Kings
with 3:18 remaining in the second.
Winnipeg got on the board about a minute later as center Bryan
Little delivered with 2:13 left in the period. It was Little's third
goal of the season.
Both teams were playing the second end of back-to-back games after
losses Saturday. The Jets were blanked 3-0 by the Sharks, while the
Kings were upended 3-2 in overtime by the Coyotes.
"I thought we were better at the start tonight than we were in San
Jose," Maurice said. "I thought their compete level was higher, and
looking at the chances, they're even. It was a harder-fought game
through 50 minutes. They were just better at certain parts of the
game than we were.
"They didn't turn the puck over at the line quite as often, they got
pucks in deep, and they were better around the net."
Los Angeles has never lost a game in regulation at home to the
Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. The Kings are 7-0-2 all time.
NOTES: LW Evander Kane missed a second game with a lower-body injury
sustained in Winnipeg's season-opening win over the Arizona Coyotes
on Oct. 9. ... Kings D Jake Muzzin was scratched with an upper-body
injury. Muzzin has yet to play this season. ... Los Angeles C Trevor
Lewis also sat out with an upper-body injury for the second
consecutive game. ... Winnipeg D Mark Stuart played his 500th career
game. ... Long-time Kings announcer Bob Miller celebrated his 76th
birthday Sunday. ... The Jets open a five-game homestand Friday
against the Nashville Predators. ... Los Angeles plays the second
game of its six-game homestand Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.
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