Stephenson scores twice, Golden Knights top Kings for sweep

LAS VEGAS -- Chandler Stephenson scored two goals for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Stephenson scored on the power play to put Vegas ahead 4-3 at 1:38 of the third period. It was the forward's first two-goal game since Jan. 31, 2018, for the Washington Capitals.
Stephenson, coming down the left side, tried to center the puck to Alex Tuch, but it deflected off defenseman Kale Clague's stick and beat goalie Cal Petersen five-hole.
"Pretty lucky goal, but I'll take it," Stephenson said.
Zach Whitecloud scored his first NHL regular-season goal, and Robin Lehner made 29 saves for the Golden Knights (7-1-1), who defeated the Kings 5-2 on Friday. It was Lehner's first win in three starts.
"Beating any team in this league twice is going to be tough," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. "You see that when you look around the League. There's no doubt we made it tougher on ourselves tonight. You've got to win all kinds of different ways this season. The bottom line is we're winning in a league that's hard to do so."
Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his first NHL goal for Los Angeles (3-6-2), which lost its fourth consecutive game despite scoring on its first two shots on goal. Petersen made 29 saves after playing 38:56 in relief of Jonathan Quick on Friday.
"I thought we did a much better job than in games prior," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "I thought we created a lot of good looks, kept plays alive in the offensive zone. Offensively, I thought we improved as a team tonight."
Anze Kopitar scored 36 seconds into the game to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.

Reilly Smith tied it 1-1 at 5:57 with a wrist shot on the rush from the left face-off circle.
Adrian Kempe scored to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead at 7:06, but Whitecloud scored 26 seconds later to tie it 2-2 at 7:32.
Stephenson gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead at 11:37 when he scored on the rush after receiving a no-look, backhand pass from Mark Stone in the neutral zone.
"We've got good size, but we've got a lot of good speed too," Stephenson said. "I think it helps us back off teams and have possession of the puck more."

Acquired in a trade from Washington on Dec. 2, 2019, Stephenson mostly has been the top-line center for Vegas with Stone and Max Pacioretty. He has scored 27 points (11, goals, 16 assists) in 50 games for the Golden Knights after scoring 33 (14 goals, 19 assists) in 168 games in five seasons with the Capitals.
"Obviously, coming in last year, it was a big change from what I was used to," Stephenson said. "I think building from last year to this year and just the chemistry we have built [on that line] and just know exactly where each other's going to be … it's just a good click we have."
Anderson-Dolan tied it 3-3 at 8:53 of the second period with a one-timer off a pass from behind the net by Trevor Moore.
NOTES: The Kings have been outscored 17-6 in the first period. It was the ninth time in 11 games that they allowed at least three goals in the first. … Lehner tweaked his shoulder in the second period but remained in the game. DeBoer said he'll have an update Monday. … It was Whitecloud's 25th NHL regular-season game. The defenseman scored two goals in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. ... It was Anderson-Dolan's 11th NHL game, second this season.