Kings score three straight, defeat Sabres

LOS ANGELES --The Los Angeles Kings scored three straight goals, including two in the third period, to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 at Staples Center on Sunday.

Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist, and Tobias Bjornfot and Adrian Kempe each had two assists for the Kings (3-5-1), who have won consecutive games for the first time this season after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Saturday. Jonathan Quick made 22 saves to get his first win of the season.
"I thought last night we were able to play and turn the tide, turn the feel around the team," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "And we talked about this being a game where we hope we can come out of what we were in by putting back-to-back games together, and so far so good."

Rasmus Asplund and Victor Olofsson scored, and Dustin Tokarski made 31 saves for the Sabres (5-2-1), who also allowed three straight goals to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday before recovering for a 4-3 overtime win.
"It's a little bit harder to control momentum in somebody else's building, so yeah, you have to pay a lot more attention to details when you're on the road in those situations," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "Like every other team, we have to take all this information that's at us and take it to heart and become better because of it."
Carl Grundstrom cut it to 2-1 at 8:39 of the second period when he got around Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and scored on his own rebound near the left post.
Grundstrom, who was a healthy scratch against the Canadiens on Saturday, slotted into the lineup in place of forward Viktor Arvidsson, who was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol after taking warmups.
"Last year got us ready for this year when it comes to that," McLellan said. "Today, losing a player after warmup was a bit of a jolt, but handled well by everybody."
Kopitar tied it 2-2 at 4:50 of the third period, scoring on a wrist shot from the left circle through a screen by Dustin Brown six seconds into a power play.
"I think we had a pretty solid game through 60 minutes," Kempe said. "We knew before the game that they were going to going to come hard on the rush, and they scored a couple there. But we really fought back in the third period and deserved the win at the end, for sure."

Alex Iafallo gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead at 13:41 with a one-timer from just outside the crease after receiving a centering pass from Bjornfot. Iafallo has five points (three goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak.
"This guy's a good player, and that's why I think he can score 25 or 30," McLellan said. "He slows the game down when he needs to. He's in the right spot. He speeds it up when he needs to. He can check. He comes to the bench, he sits down, he gathers his thought, he goes and does it again. Low maintenance, high production."
Asplund put the Sabres ahead 1-0 at 3:07 of the second period. He poked free a pass by Arthur Kaliyev and skated into the Kings zone on a 2-on-1 before cutting toward the slot and beating Quick under his right arm for a shorthanded goal.
Olofsson made it 2-0 at 7:39 of the second, skating in all alone for a wrist shot from the slot after receiving a pass from Jacob Bryson, who started the rush by blocking a shot by Iafallo.
"I think probably the last two or three games, we haven't played a full 60 minutes, and it's obviously hurt us," Bryson said. "Starting with myself, I think we can be a lot better for a full 60. We've been successful at getting the leads but can't find a way to hold them, and I think that's a big learning step for us."
NOTES: Kings forward Gabriel Vilardi was placed in COVID-19 protocol. … Kopitar's power-play goal was his 100th in the NHL. … Los Angeles defenseman
Kale Clague
had an assist after also getting one in his season debut against Montreal on Saturday. … Asplund has four points (three goals, one assist) and Oloffson has five points (three goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak.