Kings score 4 goals in 2nd, top Blue Jackets to extend point streak to 8

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings scored four straight goals in the second period and extended their point streak to eight games with a 4-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.

Carl Grundstrom had a goal and an assist, and Pheonix Copley made 29 saves for the Kings (40-20-9), who have won seven of eight (7-0-1). Anze Kopitar, Viktor Arvidsson and Drew Doughty also scored for Los Angeles.
"I don't think we've given up a ton of goals," Doughty said. "That's the way we've got to win games. We're not a high-powered offense. Yes, we're better [on] offense, but we still got to play good defense in order to win games."
Los Angeles is one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division following Vegas' 7-2 home loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Kirill Marchenko scored, and Daniil Tarasov was pulled after allowing four goals on 27 shots for the Blue Jackets (21-39-7), who are 1-4-1 in their past six games. Michael Hutchinson saved all nine shots he faced after replacing Tarasov in the second period.
"We got stubborn in some areas," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "The puck management, it caught up to us in the second period. The first three goals are just blatant turnovers in the neutral zone."

Doughty gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 4:44 of the second, following up his own rebound to score for the second straight game.
"I used to do that all the time when I was younger," Doughty said. "I kind of put it on the back burner for a long time. Just kind of learned to win hockey games I don't need to do that.
"I need to play a good two-way game and, yeah, maybe I should do it more often. But I just had my opportunity to do it tonight and was able to pull them off."
Anze Kopitar made it 2-0 at 7:42 by attacking the left post off a pass from Quinton Byfield.

Viktor Arvidsson extended it to 3-0 at 12:36, scoring on a one-timer from the left circle before Grundstrom made it 4-0 at 13:48 with a wrist shot from the right circle.
"I've really been impressed with 'Grunny,'" Doughty said. "I think he's been playing great, playing hard. He's probably the hardest forward to play against when you play against our team because he's so physical and strong."
It was the second straight game Los Angeles scored four consecutive goals in the second period after also doing so in a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
"You look at the goals that we got; 'Kopi''s was a real nice touch play, but Carl's was a simple shot, 'Dewey' bullied his way to the net, so those were aggressive goal," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "Shooting goals, and that's good for us to have in our game right now."
Hutchinson replaced Tarasov in the second after Columbus went down 4-0. Larsen said he didn't fault Tarasov for the first three goals.
"We put him in bad positions," Larsen said. "I felt bad for him because he deserved better."
Marchenko scored at 4:31 of the third period on a wrist shot from the left circle for the 4-1 final, ending a seven-game scoring drought.
"I don't think about goals," Marchenko said. "I start with scores (of the game)."
NOTES: The Kings have won at least 40 of their first 69 games for the fourth time in franchise history. They also did so in 2015-16 (won 40 of first 66 games), 2009-10 (won 40 of first 67 games) and 1990-91 (also won 40 of first 69 games). … Marchenko's 17 goals ranks fourth in the NHL among rookies. Marchenko, who broke a tie with Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish (16), trails Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars (19), Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken (19) and Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators (18).