LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist, and Adrian Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson scored power-play goals in the second period of the Los Angeles Kings’ 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday .
Gabriel Vilardi also scored during the Kings’ three-goal second period, and captain Anze Kopitar had two assists. Cal Petersen made 26 saves in an encouraging rebound victory for Los Angeles, which had lost three of four after a strong start to the season.
“Special teams are always huge, and the fact that we were able to get the upper hand is important, especially against this team,” Kopitar said. “I don’t think we gave up too much. We put in four more and played the checking game that we need to play, and the result is there.”
Fiala had another big offensive game in his first season with the Kings, highlighted early in the third period when he stole the puck from Rasmus Sandin and skated into a breakaway for the game’s final goal. The prolific Swiss goalscorer has nine points in 10 games for LA, including three multi-point outings so far.
“Obviously Kevin’s arrival added a dimension,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “I thought he was playing in the position he was in tonight to balance things out a bit more. He’s been able to create with creative workers and players in his career, so he’s done a really good job there. -down.
Petersen also had his best performance after allowing 12 goals in his first seven periods of action this season.
Captain John Tavares scored a power-play goal and Pierre Engvall also scored for the Leafs, who have lost three straight on their West Coast swing.
“We’ve lost a bit of confidence the last three games,” said Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who stopped 25 shots. “We have to (get him) back. … Hard to say (why), but every time you lose three games in a row, your confidence will definitely be shaken. You have no more smiles.
Tavares scored his fourth goal of the season in the first period on the rebound after William Nylander fired the puck from the back boards. Although Toronto scored the first goal of a game for only the third time in nine games this season, the Leafs struggled to get the puck out of their crease for long stretches of the Kings’ strong second period.
Los Angeles took the lead with a pair of power-play goals. Kempe, playing in his 400th career NHL game, put a one-timer in the top corner on a cross pass from Fiala before Arvidsson collected a pass from Phillip Danault exactly six minutes later.
Vilardi then snuck into the slot and buried a remarkable backhand pass behind the net of Kopitar, the franchise’s career leading scorer.
“I think for the most part we get the best version of themselves from the other team,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “LA just suffered a tough loss. They were going to be called up defensively here after giving up six the night before. They made it difficult for us to get out of the wall. I thought we were spending too much time on the boards. Still, I thought at 5-5, it’s a pretty even hockey game. The difference is the special teams and you know, we gave them gifts for goals, you know, they didn’t necessarily give us, so that’s really the difference.
Engvall cut the deficit to 3-2 late in the second with his first goal of the season on a loose puck up front after a Kings turnover.
BEGINNING
Leafs defenseman Filip Král made his NHL debut with 16 shifts, including time shorthanded for Toronto. Král has played 71 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies over the past three seasons.
NEXT
Maple Leafs: At Anaheim on Sunday night.
Kings: At St. Louis on Monday night.
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