Kings 2, Islanders 1
LOS ANGELES -- A fluke goal off New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk in the second period was the difference and allowed the Los Angeles Kings to capture a 2-1 victory on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Kings left winger Milan Lucic was credited with the goal at 3:28 of the second, lifting Los Angeles (10-6) to its 10th win in 13 games.
Goaltender Jhonas Enroth stopped 31 of 32 shots for the Kings. Enroth, the backup to Jonathan Quick, is unbeaten in three starts this season.
Netminder Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves as the Islanders (8-6-3) lost for the third time in four games.
Center Brock Nelson put the Islanders on the board first, converting a pass from center John Tavares and ripping a shot past Enroth for a 1-0 lead at 10:41 of the first period. It was Nelson's fourth goal this season.
After New York defenseman Calvin de Haan was sent to the box for tripping, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty smoked a shot past Halak three seconds later for a power-play goal with 3:37 left in the first to tie the score. Doughty has two goals on the season.
Los Angeles received a gift early in the second period when Boychuk failed to clear the puck in the Kings' zone. Kings center Tyler Toffoli gathered it and fired a shot that bounced off Halak, who tried to steer the puck with his stick. But it bounced off Boychuk's skate and into the net for a 2-1 Kings' advantage. Lucic, who was the closest King to the puck, was credited with the goal, his fourth of the season.
New York had opportunities in the final period, including a 5-on-3 advantage for 45 seconds in the opening five minutes, but failed to score. The Kings are 8-1-2 in the last 11 meetings between the two teams.
NOTES: An announced crowd of 18,230 attended the game. ... New York is 7-1-1 when C John Tavares records a point, suffering its first regulation loss on Thursday. It is still 5-0-1 when Tavares scores a goal. However, the Kings were the only NHL club Tavares had failed to score a goal against. ... Kings D Drew Doughty ranked fourth in the league in TOI/GM (26:34) entering the game. ... The Islanders scratched D Adam Pelech, LW Taylor Beck and G Thomas Greiss. D Derek Forbort and C Jordan Weal were unavailable for the Kings. ... The Islanders killed off 35 of 38 penalties (88.2 percent) in the previous 12 games, good for fourth place in the league. ... The two clubs meet again Feb. 11 at the Barclays Center in New York. ... The Islanders visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, while the Kings complete their five-game homestand Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.