Khudobin helps Bruins end four-game losing streak

LOS ANGELES --Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy each scored, and the Boston Bruins defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 at Staples Center on Thursday.
Anton Khudobin made 27 saves for the Bruins (7-7-4), who ended a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). Boston hadn't won on the road since defeating the Arizona Coyotes 6-2 on Oct. 14 (0-3-2).

WATCH: [All Bruins vs. Kings highlights]
"I don't want to say we played desperate, but in our room we really wanted to get a win," McAvoy said. "It felt like it's been a while so we put together a complete 60 minutes and we had no passengers tonight."
Drew Doughty scored, and Jonathan Quick made 28 saves for the Kings (11-6-2), who have lost four straight, all at home.
Chara gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead when his shot from the blue line struck the stick of Kings forward Trevor Lewis and redirected in at 13:16 of the second period, ending a 13-game streak without a goal. Jordan Szwarz timed his jump at the foot of the crease perfectly to avoid the puck and still screen Quick.

The Kings had tied it 1-1 at 4:33 of the second period on the power play. Doughty fired a wrist shot for his fourth goal off a perfect pass from Jussi Jokinen.
The assist was Jokinen's first point for the Kings after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in a trade for Michael Cammalleri on Tuesday.
Anze Kopitar had the secondary assist to extend his point streak to a personal NHL-best 10 games (three goals, nine assists). It is the longest streak for Los Angeles since Dustin Brown went 10 straight games with a point in 2011-12.
McAvoy put Boston ahead 1-0 at 16:06 of the first. As Kings defenseman Derek Forbort wrestled with Bruins forward Danton Heinen at the edge of the crease, there was no one to challenge McAvoy as he skated to the front of the net and put a backhand past Quick.
With defenseman Torey Krug the latest addition to Boston's lengthy list of absences after sustaining an upper-body injury in the 4-2 loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, coach Bruce Cassidy wanted McAvoy to be more assertive offensively. The rookie responded by scoring his second NHL goal 16 games after getting his first in the season opener.
"We want him to be more involved offensively within his limits," Cassidy said. "He has to find out those limits in the league. We're starting to see a little bit more activity from him. Down some of our scoring, we need it. He's only going to get better. That's the scary part."
Patrice Bergeron got an assist, giving him three goals and five assists in his past nine games.

Goal of the game

Chara's goal at 13:16 of the second period.

Save of the game

Khudobin denied Dustin Brown with 3:20 remaining in the third period.

Highlight of the game

McAvoy's goal at 16:06 of the first period.

They said it

"There's never any reason to play the 'poor me' attitude. It won't get you anywhere, so every night we go into battle and no matter who's in the lineup we feel like we should get two points."-- defenseman Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins injuries
"It's tough for him coming in - new team, new city. He had a lot of information the first day, but he looked comfortable out there. He's a veteran guy that's got good smarts. I certainly saw lots of things about his game that you like and can help us." -- Kings coach John Stevens on Jussi Jokinen's debut

Need to know

Boston placed forwards Brad Marchand (undisclosed) and Anders Bjork (undisclosed) on injured reserve Thursday. … Center David Krejci played 18:02 in his first action after missing 11 games with a back injury. The Bruins have had Bergeron and Krejci, their two top centers, available together for two games this season, and won both. Krejci was injured in the 6-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct 19, which was Bergeron's season debut after missing the first five games with a lower-body injury. … The Bruins scratched forward Matt Beleskey, who does not have a point in 13 games this season, and has not scored a goal in his past 26 games, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs. … Kopitar (759) passed Bernie Nicholls for fifth on the career points list for the Kings.

What's next

Bruins: At the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN, NHL.TV)
Kings: Host the Florida Panthers on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-F, NHL.TV)