Boyle, Johnson help Lightning conquer Kings
LOS ANGELES -- Brian Boyle and Tyler Johnson registered goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Monday.
Tampa Bay (21-20-4) won for the second time in three games after a four-game losing streak. Ben Bishop made 31 saves. The one goal surrendered was the Lightning's best defensive effort in seven games as they recorded 17 blocked shots in support of Bishop.
Los Angeles (22-18-4) had a two-game winning streak snapped and is 3-3-0 on its current homestand. The Kings dropped to 14-5-2 when scoring first and Peter Budaj stopped 27 Tampa Bay shots.
The teams played a scoreless third period with the Kings outshooting the Lightning 11-5 but could not dent Bishop for the tying goal despite having a power play opportunity early in the final frame.
The Lightning took a 2-1 lead on Brian Boyle's 11th goal of the season at 18:47 of the second period. Boyle gathered the puck during a scramble to the left of Budaj and banked a shot off Dustin Brown for the score with Valtteri Filppula and Nikita Kucherov drawing assists.
Tampa Bay tied the score at 1 on Tyler Johnson's 13th goal of the season at 14:33 of the first period. Jonathan Drouin connected on a pinpoint pass from the left boards to Johnson who snapped a short shot past Budaj with Luke Witkowski drawing the secondary assist.
The Kings took a 1-0 lead on Kyle Clifford's third goal of the season at 8:33 at the first period. Clifford stole the puck from Bishop as he attempted to make a clearing play behind the net and his wraparound attempt beat Bishop to the open cage.
NOTES: Tampa Bay scratched D Victor Hedman, RW Ryan Callahan and RW Joel Vermin. Hedman was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury. ... The Lightning recalled Vermin from Syracuse of the AHL on Sunday, his second recall this season. Vermin registered two assists in eight games after a Nov. 30 recall and totaled nine goals and 21 points in 37 games with Syracuse this season. ... Los Angeles did not dress C Anze Kopitar, D Brayden McNabb and D Tom Gilbert. Kopitar was a late scratch after becoming ill Monday morning. ... Kings coach Darryl Sutter entered the game tied with Jacques Lemaire (617) for 12th on the all-time coaching wins list. ... Los Angeles concludes its seven-game home stand on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks, its final meeting of the season against its Pacific Division rivals. The Kings start a stretch of nine road games out of its next 10 on Saturday in Brooklyn against the New York Islanders.