Kings extend point streak, defeat Coyotes in shootout

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Kings recovered after blowing a two-goal lead for a 3-2 shootout win against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Thursday.

Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter scored in the first period for the Kings (6-6-3), who have won three games in a row and are 3-0-1 in their past four. Jonathan Quick made 20 saves.
"We were happy with the first, probably a little too happy, because we didn't respond in the second," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "We talked about all the work we did in the first period just gets us back to even. I think that's where the guys settled in and started to do things right again."
Conor Garland and Phil Kessel scored in the second period for the Coyotes (7-6-3), who are 1-0-2 in their past three but 5-2-2 in their past nine. Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves.
It was Arizona's first game against a team other than the St. Louis Blues since Jan. 28. The Coyotes went 4-2-1 in seven straight games against the Blues, including a 1-0 win Monday.
"We weren't ready to go tonight," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "After that, I like the resiliency of getting two quick goals, but it was another game where there wasn't much [offense]. I didn't see a lot of Grade A's from both teams."

Gabriel Vilardi scored the deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout and had an assist on Carter's goal.
"I didn't feel any pressure at all," Vilardi said. "I had a chance to finish it for the team, and I was lucky enough to do it. I thought we had another nice game, and 'Quickie' made some really nasty saves again."
Brown gave the Kings a 1-0 lead 4:21 into the game after Anze Kopitar chipped him the puck out of a scramble along the left boards. It was his fourth goal in four games.
Carter made it 2-0 at 11:50 when Kuemper accidentally knocked the puck across the goal line. The goal initially was waved off for goaltender interference, but McLellan successfully challenged.
Garland scored from the high slot at 1:00 to make it 2-1, and Kessel scored his first goal in 12 games off Tyler Pitlick's rebound at 5:51, seven seconds after a Coyotes power play ended, to tie it 2-2.
"We finally found our work ethic," Arizona forward Christian Dvorak said. "First period, we didn't have enough of that. We just need to have a better start. That's the reason we didn't get two points."
Kessel scored four goals in Arizona's first four games, but he hadn't scored since Jan. 20 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
"That was a big goal for him, hopefully he can break loose, get some goals," Tocchet said.
Kopitar and Adrian Kempe also scored in the shootout for Los Angeles. Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz scored for Arizona.
"McLellan
got his first assist with Arizona on Kessel's goal.