Late goals lift Kings over Islanders
LOS ANGELES -- Dwight King scored twice late in the third period as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Islanders 4-2 on Wednesday.
Los Angeles (11-9-1) won its fourth straight game and fifth straight at home to remain two points behind Pacific Division-leading Edmonton.
New York (6-9-4) lost for the fifth time in six games and remains last in the Eastern Conference with 16 points.
The Kings took a 1-0 lead on Alec Martinez's fourth goal of the season at 15:34 of the first period. Martinez's wrist shot from just inside the blue line beat Jaroslav Halak, who was screened by Trevor Lewis. Jake Muzzin and Anze Kopitar drew assists.
Los Angeles outshot New York 12-7 in the opening period despite having to kill off two penalties.
The pace of the game slowed through the scoreless second period that saw the Islanders outshoot the Kings 7-6.
Anders Lee's second goal of the season tied the game 1-1 at 4:27 of the third period. Lee scored with a no-look backhand off a rebound of a Travis Hamonic shot from the point, with Alan Quine drawing the secondary assist. It was Lee's first goal in 15 games; his other goal was scored Oct. 16 against San Jose.
King scored at 17:07 of the third period to give the Kings a 2-1 lead. King finished off an odd man rush 25 seconds later when he batted Trevor Lewis' initial shot past Halak to make it 3-1.
Muzzin added an empty-net goal, his third goal of the season, at 17:51 of the third period, and Lee scored his second goal of the game at 18:08 to complete the scoring.
NOTES: New York scratched RW Cal Clutterbuck, D Scott Mayfield and G Thomas Griess. ... The Islanders will spend Thanksgiving on the road, concluding their three-game California trip in San Jose on Friday. They return to Barclays Center on Monday to face the Calgary Flames. ... The Islanders' 4-3 shootout win in Anaheim on Tuesday was the franchise's 70th all-time shootout victory, tying the Pittsburgh Penguins for the NHL record. ... Los Angeles did not dress RW Teddy Purcell and D Tom Gilbert. ... Kings C Anze Kopitar returned to action after a five-game absence because of a wrist injury. Entering the contest, Kopitar has eight points (two goals) in 15 games. ... Kings G Peter Budaj started his 18 consecutive game in net. Budaj took over the starter's role after Jeff Zatkoff suffered a groin injury during a 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 20. ... Los Angeles continues a three-game homestand Saturday vs. the Chicago Blackhawks. The Kings are in the midst of a stretch of six out of seven games at home.