Kings 5, Ducks 3
Mike Richards tallied twice and Anze Kopitar scored to snap a tie with just over three minutes remaining and lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 5-3 victory over the host Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in the back half of a home-and-home series.
Simon Gagne added a goal and an assist and Slava Voynov tallied for the Kings, who have won three straight and four of five to jump into first place in the Pacific Division.
The Ducks, who lost in a shootout in Los Angeles on Wednesday, have dropped three straight and nine of 10.
The Kings built a 3-1 lead when Voynov scored his third goal on the power play at the 2:45 mark in the third. Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry brought light-scoring Anaheim back within one on the power play and Andrew Cogliano’s second goal of the night made it 3-3 with 6:25 left in the game.
Kopitar put Los Angeles on top for good with 3:01 left. He had his slap shot from the slot sail wide but circled around the back of the net and joined the scrum for the rebound. Kopitar got the puck on the left doorstep and punched it past Dan Ellis on his second attempt.
Jonathan Quick made 35 saves for the Kings.