Kings score 6, defeat Coyotes for 1st home win

LOS ANGELES -- Kevin Fiala scored his first goal of the season in the Los Angeles Kings’ 6-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.

Pheonix Copley made 24 saves for the Kings (3-2-1), who got their first home win following an 0-2-1 start. Fiala, Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Blake Lizotte each had a goal and an assist.

“Everyone wants to make a difference in the game, right, and when you can do it on the score sheet, that’s the best feeling ever,” Lizotte said.

Clayton Keller scored for the third straight game for the Coyotes (3-3-0), who had won two in a row. Connor Ingram was replaced midway through the first period after allowing three goals on nine shots. Karel Vejmelka made 16 saves in relief.

“I just think it was like a tale of two games, we were either really good or really bad,” Arizona defenseman Troy Stecher said. “You learn from your mistakes, and then you build off the positives, and I think we had both tonight.”  

Jack McBain put the Coyotes up 1-0 at 2:59 of the first period, beating Matt Roy to a loose puck and putting in the rebound of Travis Boyd’s shot for his first goal of the season.

Kopitar tied it 1-1 on the power play at 8:13. He got his third goal of the season and second on the man-advantage with a one-timer from the left circle.

Fiala had the primary assist. It was his eighth assist during a five-game point streak (nine points).

Trevor Lewis put the Kings in front 2-1 at 10:35, scoring on a wrist shot from the left circle.

Trevor Moore made it 3-1 at 12:34, attacking the right post and putting in Phillip Danault’s cross-slot pass for his team-leading fifth goal while sending Ingram to the bench.

“I think we decided we’re gonna play a little faster because we weren’t real fast out of the game,” Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. “We were in the right spots, but we weren’t reacting real quick, and they were beating us to open ice, beating us to loose pucks and overwhelming us. But once things settled down, I thought we played more our game and at our pace than we did the first five minutes.”

Nick Bjugstad cut it to 3-2 at 6:17 of the second period, beating Moore to the rebound of Lawson Crouse’s shot.

Lizotte put the Kings up 4-2 at 7:39 on a wrist shot from the right circle. The line of Lizotte, Lewis and Carl Grundstrom were a combined plus-6.

“Majority of the game was how we’re supposed to play, hard and on the forecheck and creating chances,” Lizotte said. “Sometimes the fourth line can take over the game. … That’s just what our line is here for is to bring energy and chip in on offense when we can.” 

Keller scored on a slap shot on the power play to pull Arizona within 4-3 at 17:28. He has four points (three goals, one assists) during his streak.

Fiala made it 5-3 at 5:35 of the third period. He backhanded in Vladislav Gavrikov’s rebound after it trickled through Vejmelka’s legs.

“His goal was the shortest shot he'll probably take all year," McLellan said. "It was, what, 2 inches. But you got to go get those sometimes too in those areas. ... I'm sure he'll feel better now that he's off that 0-for mound.”

Barrett Hayton looked to have cut it to 5-4 at 10:49, but the Kings challenged. The goal was overturned when video review determined Nick Schmaltz preceded the puck into the offensive zone.

“We came back, like I said, really strong in the second, in the third period, played good hockey,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “There’s the offside goal. If not, it’s a one shot game again.”

Kempe scored into an empty net at 19:33 for the 6-3 final.

“We’d love to have a better start mostly, but our team is resilient,” Lizotte said. “There's just no panic, and I think that's the sign of a good team.”

NOTES: Kopitar played in his 651st home game, breaking a tie with Dustin Brown (650) for most in Kings history. Kopitar broke Brown’s record for games played with the Kings on Saturday against the Boston Bruins at 1,297. … Coyotes forward Matias Maccelli got his fourth assist during a three-game streak. … Fiala has three multipoint games during his five-game point streak. … Schmaltz had an assist for the third straight game.