Kings 2, Maple Leafs 1
LOS ANGELES -- Center Jeff Carter's goal at 8:05 of the third period was the difference, and the Los Angeles Kings held off the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2-1 victory Thursday night at Staples Center.
Carter, who was back in the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury, smoked a wrist shot past goaltender James Reimer for a 2-0 lead. It was Carter's 12th goal of the season.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who stuffed two game-tying attempts by Toronto in the final three minutes, stopped 25 shots for Los Angeles, winners of six of its last seven games.
Reimer finished with 39 saves for Toronto, which was coming off a 4-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs (16-16-7) had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Los Angeles defenseman Jake Muzzin broke up a scoreless contest at 2:53 of the third by converting a pass from newly acquired center Vincent Lecavalier and ripping a winner past Reimer.
Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock challenged the goal, saying Kings left winger Michael Mersch was guilty of goalie interference. However, after a review, the goal was upheld. It was Muzzin's fifth goal of the season and his first since Oct. 29, when he tallied one against the New Jersey Devils.
Lecavalier and defenseman Luke Schenn were making their Los Angeles debut. They were acquired Wednesday by the Kings (26-12-2) in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers for center Jordan Weal and a third-round draft pick.
After Carter doubled the advantage, center Peter Holland pulled the Maple Leafs within a goal on a power play at 10:05 of the third. He fielded a pass from center Nazem Kadri and delivered his seventh goal this season, but Toronto failed to score again.
Los Angeles received a scare late in the first period. Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak received a game-misconduct penalty after slamming Kings center and leading scorer Tyler Toffoli into the boards with 34 seconds remaining until the first intermission. Toffoli appeared to injure his right wrist. However, Toffoli returned for the opening shift of the second period.
NOTES: Toronto C Leo Komarov collected 14 points (five goals) in the previous 12 games. ... Kings C Tyler Toffoli was tied for the league lead with Chicago Blackhawks C Dylan Larkin for plus/minus at plus-22 entering the game. ... Los Angeles D Drew Doughty and new teammate D Luke Schenn were the second and fifth picks of the 2008 draft. The Kings took Doughty, while the Maple Leafs selected Schenn. ... Toronto scratched D Frank Corrado, C Byron Froese and G Antoine Bibeau. D Jamie McBain, C Andy Andreoff and C Nick Shore were unavailable for the Kings. ... Both clubs resume play Saturday. The Maple Leafs visit the San Jose Sharks in the final run of their three-game West Coast swing, while the Kings host the St. Louis Blues in the second contest of their four-game homestand.