Kings beat Blues, win fourth consecutive game
ST. LOUIS -- Tyler Toffoli scored a pair of goals to lead the Los Angeles Kings to their fourth consecutive win on Friday night, a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Toffoli put the Kings in front just 1:43 into the game when he skated past defenseman Vince Dunn and beat goalie Carter Hutton. He added a second goal, his 13th of the season, midway through the third period after a steal by Tanner Pearson.
Anze Kopitar followed Toffoli's first goal with a goal off a rebound of a shot by Alex Iafallo at 6:02 of the first period, his 13th of the season. The two goals came on the Kings' first five shots.
The Blues were credited with 20 shots on goal in the first period against Los Angeles backup goalie Darcy Kuemper, but not many were quality scoring chances.
It appeared the Kings had increased their lead to 3-0 early in the second period with a power-play goal by Dustin Brown, but the goal was waived off because of goalie interference.
The Blues cut the lead to 2-1 on a power-play goal by Patrik Berglund at 15:17 of the second period. Berglund was playing in just his second game since coming off injured reserve.
The Kings were able to restore the two-goal lead on a goal by Adrian Kempe with 1:04 left in the period. Kempe scored his ninth goal of the season on a backhand shot past Hutton, who was screened on the play.
Jake Allen replaced Hutton in goal at the start of the third period and allowed the second goal by Toffoli, his third two-goal game of the season.
NOTES: After being a healthy scratch for the previous four games, D Carl Gunnarsson returned to the Blues' lineup in place of Robert Bortuzzo. ... C Oscar Sundqvist also returned in place of RW Sammy Blais, with Patrick Berglund shifting from center to left wing. ... The Kings said C Torrey Mitchell, who missed his fourth consecutive game since being acquired from Montreal on Nov. 23, had obtained his work visa and will meet the team in Chicago before Sunday's game in Chicago. ... The Blues will play the Wild Saturday night in Minnesota.