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 Pearson's third-period goal was the difference as the Los Angeles
Kings earned a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday before
an announced crowd of 18,230 at Staples Center.
"We're just talking and looking at different kind of situations,"
said Pearson, who leads the Kings with five goals, on the banter
with his linemates. "When we go back to the bench, if there's
something there, we'll communicate and work through it."
Pearson, Toffoli and center Carter, dubbed "That '70s line" because
each wears a jersey number in the 70s, has produced 11 of the Kings'
14 goals this season. Pearson and Toffoli provided the scoring
against the Wild and Carter added an assist.
Toffoli connected with left winger Pearson, who fielded a pass from
his linemate and slapped a wrist shot for a winner and a 2-0 Kings'
advantage at 2:58 of the third period. That turned out to be the
difference as the Kings (4-1-1) captured their fourth straight
victory and ended a two-game winning streak at Staples by the Wild
(2-2-0).
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick had another strong outing, blanking the
Wild until they scored early in the third period. It was the first
goal allowed in two games by Quick, who shut out the St. Louis Blues
in his last game, since Edmonton center Matt Hendricks scored in the
final 20 seconds of a 6-1 rout by the Kings over the Oilers on
Tuesday. Quick stopped 40 shots against the Wild.
"It's been huge," Toffoli said of Quick's play. "I don't think we've
had our game the last little while. We're winning, but winning on
penalty killing and goaltending right now. We know that. We have to
do better in a lot of areas. 'Quickie' is being Quickie, and he's
huge for us again."
Minnesota netminder Niklas Backstrom, in his season debut, finished
with 14 saves.
For the Wild, it was another tough setback on their two-game swing
through Southern California.
"We are creating the chances. Maybe it's in our head a little bit,"
Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "There are times when we are missing
nets or a couple of posts that we hit. Maybe if it's coming a little
bit easier, then we are not trying to be quite as precise and we are
getting if off quicker. We are generating the chances. It's a matter
of finishing."
Toffoli got the Kings rolling, giving them a 1-0 lead, gathering a
loose puck that bounced off the skate of Wild defenseman Ryan Suter
and ripping it past Backstrom for a power-play goal with 6:06
remaining in the first period. It was Toffoli's third goal of the
season.
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Minnesota cut the deficit to a goal when left winger Matt Cooke
scored, lifting a backhander past Quick at 6:47 of the third.
The Wild outshot the Kings 24-12 through two periods and finished
with a big edge overall (41-16 shots). Los Angeles also was doubled
up in shots on goal (43-18) in a 1-0 shootout win over the Blues on
Thursday night.
Like the Blues, the Wild couldn't take advantage of it.
"It feels a lot like the other night," said Minnesota forward Thomas
Vanek, referring to Friday night's 2-1 setback to the Anaheim Ducks.
"It's frustrating because as a team we played well again. There's
not much we can change besides scoring goals. It's not like we were
trying to be too pretty."
Pearson acknowledged the Kings have much room for improvement.
"Obviously, you don't want that to happen, but we just need to get
more shots and create more chances," Pearson said. "You want to try
to create at 15 shots per period, that's kind of the goal. We keep
coming up short of that. I think it's clear we have to shoot more
pucks."
NOTES: Los Angeles D Jake Muzzin and RW Marian Gaborik sat out the
game with upper-body injuries. ... D Keith Ballard, C Kyle Brodziak
and D Matt Dumba were scratches for Minnesota. ... Both clubs have
struggled with power-play goals, with the Wild now 0-for-16 and the
Kings 2-for-19. Minnesota, however, was one of five NHL clubs that
had not allowed a power-play goal until Sunday. ... The Wild were
6-2-1 in their previous nine games against Los Angeles, with four of
those contests decided by shootouts. ... The Wild will host the
Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. ... The Kings cap their six-game
homestand with games against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and the
Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 26.
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