Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (No 6) vying for the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Eric Fehr during the third period at Staples Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
By Helene Elliott/Los Angeles Times
The Kings’ defense corps grabbed the offensive spotlight Saturday, scoring three of the team’s goals in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday afternoon.
Jake Muzzin tied a career mark with three points, on a goal and two assists, and Drew Doughty and Christian Ehrhoff each scored once as the Kings won their third straight game and fourth of the last five. They’re 4-0-1 in that span.
“I think we gave up a little too much tonight,’’ Muzzin said. “But as long as we keep finding ways to win, that’s what we’ve got to do. ... Everyone (on the defense) is playing well. Maybe the personnel isn’t as highly touted, but the way we play and our character back there is the same.”
The Kings (16-8-1) beat Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury four times on 18 shots in the second period, no small feat because Fleury had shut them out twice last season.
In addition, before Saturday’s game Fleury had compiled an excellent goals-against average (2.16) and save percentage (.929), but the Kings dented both those numbers.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick allowed three goals on Pittsburgh’s first 12 shots and faced merely 20 shots overall.
Kings winger Marian Gaborik was stopped by Fleury on a penalty shot at 11:33 of the third period, after Gaborik had been pulled down on a breakaway.
Left wing Milan Lucic sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:45 of the third period, after the Penguins had pulled Fleury in favor of an extra
skater.
After a scoreless first period, the Kings broke through on the power play, triggering a spree of five goals for both teams in nine minutes and 52 seconds. When the dust cleared, the Kings led, 4-1.
The Penguins were penalized for delay of game 2 minutes and 22 seconds into the second period and the Kings swiftly took advantage.
Jeff Carter won the faceoff from Matt Cullen and slipped the puck back to Muzzin, who passed across to Drew Doughty.
The defenseman’s one-timer from the left circle beat Fleury high, to the glove side, at 2:26.
Ehrhoff increased the lead to 2-0 at 9:53, set up on a diligent and clever play by Gaborik.
After taking control of the puck in the defensive zone, Gaborik dashed up the right side and passed to Ehrhoff, who cradled the puck on his stick and shot it just past defenseman Rob Scuderi and past Fleury.
Left wing Milan Lucic finished off a two-on-one with Tyler Toffoli by taking the shot himself and propelling the puck through Fleury’s pads at
10:57.
The Penguins cut the Kings’ lead to 3-1 on a low, stick-side shot by Chris Kunitz, but Muzzin’s fine shot from the inside edge of the left circle rebuilt their three-goal lead, at 4-1.
That didn’t last, as Olli Maatta eluded a defender and skated in for a backhander that beat Quick at 18:01 to trim the Kings’ lead to 4-2.
Sidney Crosby cut the Kings’ lead to one goal when he redirected a shot by defenseman Brian Dumoulin past Quick 2:39 into the third period but the Penguins couldn’t pull even.
“I don’t think we were good enough today as a team,” Maatta said.
“Everybody has to do a better job of competing and winning those puck battles.”
