LOS ANGELES — Viktor Arvidsson scored his fourth goal in the past six games, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday for their third consecutive win.
Drew Doughty, Alex Iafallo and Kevin Fiala also scored, and Pheonix Copley made 24 saves to win his third straight start for the Kings (18-12-5). Jonathan Quick won three in a row Nov. 5-10 as part of Los Angeles’ season-high four-game winning streak.
“Our team’s playing better right now in front of Pheonix than we did in front of the other two,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “And when it’s time for ‘Quickie’ to go back in, or Cal [Petersen]or whoever it might be, I certainly expect and I’m sure the players expect that type of performance in front of them as well.”
Video: ANA@LAK: Doughty buries a one-timer from deep for PPG
Frank Vatrano scored a power-play goal, and Lukas Dostal made 37 saves for the Ducks (9-21-3), who had won two straight and were seeking their first three-game winning streak of the season.
“We had a good thing going there, a couple wins in a row coming into a rivalry game,” Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler said. “We would have liked to have a better showing than that tonight, but give them credit. They did a good job capitalizing on their opportunities, and that was the difference in the game.”
Doughty put Los Angeles ahead 1-0 at 6:46 of the second period on a slap shot from the high slot set up by Anze Kopitar.
Vatrano tied it 1-1 at 14:27, getting in position in front of the net and putting in Kevin Shattenkirk‘s rebound on the man-advantage after the Ducks had committed three straight penalties.
“We’re not a team that scores a whole lot, and having the other team have an extra guy on the ice is not a good plan,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said.
Iafallo gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at 19:39, getting the tap-in from a pass off the left post. Phillip Danault.
“It was good that everybody bought in,” Iafallo said. “Everybody’s kind of making small plays, talking out there, talking in the locker room. We got to keep doing that going into Christmas break.”
Video: ANA@LAK: Arvidsson puts home a nifty backhander
Arvidsson made it 3-1 at 3:25 of the third period, beating Dostal with a backhand shot to finish off a 2-on-1. Arthur Kaliyev.
Arvidsson played with Kaliyev and center Blake Lizotte on the third line for the second straight game.
“Arthur probably could have had three goals himself if he [bore] down, but they checked well, they played with some pace,” McLellan said. “I thought Viktor and ‘Lizzo’ were on pucks a lot, and that opened up ice for ‘Arvy.’ Better night tonight with them than it was night Number One.”
Fiala scored at 10:44 for the 4-1 final, getting through Vatrano and Nathan Beaulieu during a 1-on-2 break.
“Unreal goal,” Iafallo said. “He can protect the puck very well and fend off guys like that with his arms and still have the puck, so it was definitely good.”
Video: ANA@LAK: Fiala fights off defenders and nets a beauty
Anaheim has been outscored 51-24 in the third period.
“I really thought through the two of us we were right there,” Fowler said. “Obviously, you don’t want to give up a goal there in the last minute of any period. But still, even with that, we were in a good spot. It just wasn’t a good third period at all; that was kind of just the difference in the game.”
NOTES: Doughty has 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) for the 15th straight season, becoming the first Los Angeles defenseman and fourth player in Kings history to do so. Kopitar (17 straight seasons), Dustin Brown (17) and Dave Taylor (15) also accomplished the feat. … Fiala has scored at least 10 goals in seven consecutive seasons. … Copley is 5-1-0 for the Kings, having allowed two goals or fewer in each of his wins. … Los Angeles has scored a power-play goal in eight straight home games, its longest streak since Feb. 17-March 17, 2007. … Ducks forward Justin Kirkland had two shots on goal in 7:26 of ice time in his NHL debut. … Anaheim defenseman Urho Vaakanainen did not play because of illness.
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