Vilardi, Kings top Coyotes for fourth straight win

GLENDALE, Ariz. --Gabriel Vilardi scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings won their fourth straight game, 4-2 against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

Alex Iafallo scored twice, Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty each had two assists, and Cal Petersen made 22 saves for the Kings (7-6-3), who defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout Thursday.
"It's looking a lot better, our team's looking a lot better this season, and is going to continue to," Doughty said. "It means a lot."
Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist, Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two assists, and Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves for the Coyotes (7-7-3), who are 1-2-2 during a nine-game homestand.
"We didn't really drive a lot of pucks to the net," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. "It's not like they were all over us. They stick to their structure more than we do, and I have to give them a lot of credit. They were comfortable playing and we weren't at certain times."

Vilardi took a drop pass from Jeff Carter and scored from the edge of the right circle for a 3-2 lead at 12:52 of the third. Vilardi scored the deciding goal in the shootout Thursday.
"His shot is special, he's a special player," Doughty said. "He's a great shooter and, surprisingly, his passing is probably his best ability. We've got to get him to shoot more."
Vilardi has four goals on 18 shots this season.
"Arizona was defending really well, they didn't give us anything. It was a patient game," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "We kept saying, 'Don't get impatient, don't get impatient,' and eventually it went our way. We did shoot the puck (there) and we needed to do that more."
Kessel tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal at 9:41 of the third. It was his second goal in the past two games after going 11 games without one.
Iafallo gave the Kings a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 4:37 of the second period.
Derick Brassard's one-timer deflected off Kings defenseman Olli Maatta's stick to tie the game 1-1 on a power play at 11:49.

Trevor Moore scored a shorthanded goal 52 seconds into the third for a 2-1 lead. The Coyotes used a coach's challenge for goalie interference but the call on the ice was upheld and they were assessed a delay of game penalty.
"We faced a young, hungry team the last couple of days and it could've gone either way," Brassard said. "The third period there, we've got to be a little sharper."
Arizona forward Conor Garland drew two penalties in the final 1:48 of the second period, but the Coyotes weren't able to score and allowed a shorthanded goal.
"We started (the third) on the power play, but we were kind of lollygagging and kind of looked a little sleepy," Coyotes defenseman Jordan Oesterle said. "We didn't come out and try to finish them then and there and get one early."
Iafallo scored his second of the game into an empty net at 19:47 for the 4-2 final.
"I think it was a good learning night for us to be in that type of game from minute one all the way through, and hopefully we'll be better for it down the road," McLellan said.
NOTES: Iafallo has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past six games. … Kopitar has nine points (three goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak. … The Kings were 0-4-1 in the five games prior to the winning streak. … Los Angeles forward Andreas Athanasiou had one shot on goal in 11:47 of ice time in his first game since Jan. 26 (COVID-19 protocol). … Arizona forward Drake Caggiula played 10:34 after missing five games with a lower-body injury. … The Kings won four straight games for the first time since a seven-game streak to end last season.