Kuemper makes 27 saves, Kings shut out Coyotes

LOS ANGELES -- Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for his second consecutive shutout, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Arizona Coyotes 6-0 at Staples Center on Saturday.
Defenseman Jake Muzzin had a goal and two assists, and Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist for the Kings (28-19-5), who won for the third time in four games.

WATCH: [All Coyotes vs. Kings highlights]
Kuemper, who has won three straight starts, hasn't allowed a goal in 170:30. He has earned at least a point in 11 of 12 starts (8-1-3) for the Kings, who signed him as an unrestricted free agent July 1 after he played his first five NHL seasons for the Minnesota Wild.
"Darcy is seeing the puck right now," coach John Stevens said. "The puck is hitting him. He's probably played as good as he's ever played, and he's really come in and played sound for us."
Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves for the Coyotes (12-31-9), who won their previous three games at Los Angeles.

Iafallo put the Kings ahead 1-0 at 7:14 of the first period when he scored on the rebound of a Tyler Toffoli shot. It was the third time in 10 games that Los Angeles scored in the first.
Iafallo's work on the forecheck prior to the goal allowed the Kings to retain possession in the Coyotes zone.
"There was an intention to get pucks in deep," Stevens said. "There was good pursuit after the puck. We turned pucks over and created opportunities from it."
The Kings have led after the first period in two of three games following a seven-game span when they never led at any point in the first. They led 1-0 in a 3-0 win at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
"We need to keep doing that," Iafallo said. "Gives us momentum, and I feel like that helped us out tonight."
Trevor Lewis scored shorthanded on a breakaway to put Los Angeles in front 2-0 at 2:37 of the second period. It was his NHL career-high 13th goal, one more than he had in 82 games last season.
Kempe made it 3-0 at 5:12 of the second. Arizona coach Rick Tocchet challenged for goaltender interference by Tanner Pearson against Wedgewood, but the goal was upheld after video review.

Muzzin scored with a slap shot on the power play with 1:14 left in the second to give the Kings a 4-0 lead.
"You can't hide," Tocchet said. "We're going to play teams that scratch and claw. You're going to get the best of the best, and if you're not in compete mode -- that's my job to get these guys to compete -- you get embarrassed."
Niklas Hjalmarsson scored for the Coyotes at 1:14 of the third, but Stevens challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned after video review showed forward Max Domi entered the zone before the puck.
Kopitar scored his 20th goal to make it 5-0 at 6:22. It was his 275th NHL goal, tying Butch Goring for fifth in Kings history.
Brown made it 6-0 at 16:45.
Wedgewood made his second straight start in place of Antti Raanta, who was involved in a car accident on his way to Gila River Arena and missed his scheduled start against the Stars on Thursday. Raanta did not travel to Los Angeles.
The Kings have won two straight against Pacific Division teams following a five-game losing streak in the division.

Goal of the game

Iafallo's goal at 7:14 of the first period.

Save of the game

Kuemper stopping Nick Cousins at 1:37 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Lewis' goal at 2:37 of the second period.

They said it

"Tonight, it was pretty easy. Early on, [the defense was] letting me see and really track the first couple shots, and that just continued all night. For the most part, I just sat back and enjoyed watching them play." -- Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper
"We weren't good enough from the start. There's no excuses. Top to bottom, I don't think anyone played a good game, obviously, when you get beat like that." -- Coyotes defenseman Luke Schenn

Need to know

Kuemper has three shutouts this season, 10 in his NHL career. … Kopitar has at least one point in 11 of the past 13 games. He has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in that span. … Toffoli's assist on Iafallo's goal ended a nine-game point drought.

What's next

Coyotes: At the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)
Kings: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, SNW, NHL.TV)