Arvidsson, Danault each has 3 points, Kings defeat Golden Knights

LOS ANGELES -- Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault each had a goal and two assists for the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.

"Divisional game, we've got to win these games, especially at home," Arvidsson said. "I think we did a great job. We were ready to play. It's hard coming back from a break and just having the time with your family and getting refocused, so I think we did a great job with that."
Alex Iafallo had a goal and an assist, and Pheonix Copley made 23 saves for his fifth straight win for the Kings (20-12-6), who are 5-0-1 in their past six games.
"He's been playing great for us," Iafallo said of Copley, who is 7-1-0 this season. "He's making key saves at the right time, so we've just got to keep having those team efforts."
Michael Amadio scored for the third straight game, and Logan Thompson made 21 saves for the Golden Knights (24-12-1), who play at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
"I think they got to their game a little bit quicker than we did. Obviously, coming off the Christmas break, it takes a little bit to get into it," Vegas defenseman
Brayden Pachal
said.

Iafallo put the Kings back up 3-2 at 8:36 of the third period with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle during an odd-man rush.
Arvidsson scored into an empty net with 27 seconds left for the 4-2 final.
"The opportunity was there to win," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Guy blew a wheel and we gave up a 3-on-2, and they were able to capitalize and we weren't. That's the story of the third period."
Los Angeles went up 1-0 on Gabriel Vilardi's 15th goal, a one-timer from the left circle set up by Blake Lizotte at 11:57 of the first period. It was Vilardi's 23rd point in 37 games, tying his NHL career high from 2020-21, when he had 10 goals and 13 assists in 54 games.
"He's a very important player, he's become essential for us," Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

Amadio tied it 1-1 on the power play at 13:08 on a one-timer from the left circle. It was his sixth point (three goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak.
Alex Pietrangelo had the primary assist, his fifth during a five-game point streak. He has six points (one goal, five assists) in that span.
"I think with the power play, he's kind of found where his role is and rhythm on that top group," Cassidy said of Pietrangelo, who has 11 power-play points (one goal, 10 assists). "I see a lot better pace on that power play in general."
Brayden McNabb put Vegas ahead 2-1 at 10:07 of the second period with his first goal of the season. Reilly Smith made a backhand centering pass between his legs to find McNabb charging in to score into an empty net.

Danault tied it 2-2 at 13:22, putting in Arvidsson's pass through the crease at the right post for his third goal in the past five games.
"We play the right way," Danault said. "I think it starts from there, take some pride defensively, and go in the offensive] zone and have some fun."
**NOTES:**Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez missed the final two periods because of a lower-body injury. Cassidy said they would "have a better idea of where he's at" Wednesday. Martinez blocked a shot by Iafallo with 2:29 left in the first and returned for one more shift to close out the period. He leads the NHL with 132 blocked shots. … Kings forward
[Quinton Byfield
played 8:54 in his first game since Oct. 25. The No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Byfield missed six games because of illness and had been with Ontario of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment since Nov. 6 until being recalled Tuesday. … Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson had his seven-game point streak end (three goals, 11 assists). … Smith has nine points (five goals, four assists) in the past seven games. … Vegas went 1-for-3 on the power play and has at least one goal with the man-advantage in seven of the past eight games (10-for-23, 43.5 percent).