Kings close gap in Pacific Division with win against Red Wings

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings pulled within one point of second place in the Pacific Division with a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Staples Center on Thursday.
Anze Kopitar had a power-play goal and three assists to extend his point streak to six games for the Kings (39-26-6), who trail the San Jose Sharks by one point and lead the Anaheim Ducks by two points in the Pacific.

WATCH: [All Red Wings vs. Kings highlights]
"This time of the year it might take you all day to get the two points, but you want to make sure you stay with it and continue to do little things well, and I thought we did that," Kings coach John Stevens said. "That's an important game for us. We all know how tight the race is, so games aren't easy. It's a good two points."
Paul LaDue, Tyler Toffoli and Dustin Brown each scored, and Jonathan Quick made 20 saves to help the Kings earn a point for the third straight game (2-0-1) and improve to 6-2-1 in their past nine. Drew Doughty had an assist on all three Kings goals in the third period.
Gustav Nyquist had a power-play goal, and Jared Coreau made 18 saves for the Red Wings (26-33-11), who have lost eight straight games (0-7-1). It is the longest losing streak for Detroit since it dropped nine in a row Feb. 8-26, 1986.
Kopitar put the Kings back in front 2-1 at 8:22 of the third. He tried to play the puck behind the net with his stick, striking the stick of defenseman Nick Jensen. The contact sent the puck fluttering into the air where it hit Coreau in the back and deflected in.
"When plays like that happen, it's kind of in slow motion," said Kopitar, who has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) during his streak. "I was right at the post seeing the puck tumble and was like, 'Oh, what's going to happen? Can I get a stick on it?' But then I saw it kind of roll down his back and started celebrating."

Toffoli made it 3-1 at 18:30, and Brown scored into an empty net on the power play to make it 4-1 with 1:12 remaining.
Kopitar had an assist on both goals, the latter his 51st to tie his NHL career high set in 2011-12.
"I thought our best players led the way tonight, and Kopi was certainly one of them," Stevens said.
The Kings took a 1-0 lead at 8:55 of the first period when LaDue scored on a long shot from inside the blue line. Kopitar won the face-off and got the puck to Alex Iafallo, who found LaDue for his third goal in eight games this season.
LaDue had not played in the previous 14 games as either a healthy scratch or while assigned to Ontario of the American Hockey League.
"It was a tough stretch there, but the team was doing well and you just got to stay ready. To come out and get that win tonight, it was unbelievable," LaDue said.
Nyquist tied it at 1-1 45 seconds into the third, scoring for the second consecutive game when he tipped Niklas Kronwall's shot off the post and put the rebound into an open net.
Frans Nielsen had the secondary assist in his return after missing three games with a concussion.
"We got lots of character in our room, there's no question about that," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "We have fought our tails off for a long time here. Haven't had results, that's a hard thing. Our guys keep coming and playing. I think that speaks to the leadership that's in the dressing room."

Goal of the game

Kopitar's goal at 8:22 of the third period.

Save of the game

Quick's save on Nielsen at 15:26 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Nyquist's goal at 45 seconds of the third period.

They said it

"We gave up that goal but bounced right back. It showed resiliency and character of this team that we don't get discouraged and we got the job done.-- Kings center Anze Kopitar on the third period
"You better have a short memory in this league. You got to find a way to win the next game. Once this goes away, you learn from it." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill on the losing streak

Need to know

Toffoli has four points (two goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak. … Doughty has seven points (goal, six assists) during a four-game point streak. … The Kings have scored 90 of their 205 goals in the third period. They have a plus-36 scoring margin in the third.

What's next

Red Wings: At the Anaheim Ducks on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SN1, FS-W, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Kings: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; FS-W, MSG+, NHL.TV)