Kings 6, Coyotes 2
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It's hard to imagine Dustin Brown's popularity in Arizona falling any lower. The Los Angeles Kings captain is already the most reviled hockey player in the Valley due to a colorful history with the Arizona Coyotes.
Brown somehow added to the venom when he scored a pair of goals in the Kings' 6-2 win over the Coyotes on Tuesday at Gila River Arena. Neither goal was impressive -- one came from the red line; the other from a terrible angle -- but the both helped L.A. erase a second-period deficit and post its first regulation win over the Coyotes this season in the series finale between the teams.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick made 23 saves for Los Angeles, which also got goals from defensemen Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, right winger Marian Gaborik and center Vincent Lecavalier. Left winger Jordan Martinook and right winger Anthony Duclair scored for Arizona, which got 20 saves from goalie Louis Domingue before he was pulled early in the third period.
Arizona still won the season series, 3-1-1.
Coyotes left winger Jordan Martinook gave his team an early lead when he caught Quick napping at 6:13 of the first period. Martinook collected a loose puck and sent a shot from the far boards that Quick misjudged.
Los Angeles tied the game early in the second period with Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy off for roughing. Muzzin carried the puck down the left circle and beat Domingue high through a screen by Kings center Jeff Carter.
Arizona answered quickly when left winger Max Domi corralled a loose puck to the right of Quick and fed right winger Anthony Duclair in the slot. Duclair spun 180 degrees and beat Quick with a high shot to the glove side at 6:40.
The goal gave Duclair 14 on 61 shots for a shooting percentage of 23, which is tops in the NHL for players with 50 or more shots.
Los Angeles tied the game again on another power play at 9:57 of the second period when Martinez beat Domingue through another Carter screen.
Gaborik gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead at 18:47 of the second period when Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton broke his stick while attempting a shot at the far blue line. The resulting turnover gave the Kings a 2-on-1 and Gaborik held the puck to beat Domingue high to the glove side.
Los Angeles widened the lead to 4-2 only 12 seconds later when Brown's shot from the neutral zone fooled Domingue and skipped into the net with 1:01 left in the period.
NOTES: Arizona's Dave Tippett coached his 1,000th NHL game on Tuesday. ... Coyotes GM Don Maloney said Monday that he would be surprised if G Mike Smith plays any games in February as he rehabs from abdominal surgery in mid-December that was expected to sideline him eight to 10 weeks. Smith has been out seven weeks. He has resumed skating but likely won't practice with the team for at least two more weeks. ... Coyotes assistant GM Darcy Regier is leaving the organization for unspecified reasons, two NHL sources told ArizonaSports.com. ... Kings LW Milan Lucic returned to Arizona 10 days after he was suspended one game for sucker punching Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton on Jan. 23 at Gila River Arena. ... The Kings reached the 30-win mark in their 48th game this season, the fastest they have ever reached that mark.