LOS ANGELES – Milan Lucic was credited for the game-winning goal that actually deflected off an opponent's skate, and the Los Angeles Kings held on to beat the New York Islanders 2-1 on Thursday night at Staples Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Brock Nelson put the Islanders on the board at 10:41 into the first period. Nelson's wrist shot flew over Jhonas Enroth's left shoulder and into the net for the goal. John Tavares was credited with the assist.
Drew Doughty tied the game on a Kings PP with just over three minutes left in the period. Doughty's slap shot from way downtown screamed past Jaroslav Halak's right shoulder and into the back of the net.
The Kings took the lead when Milan Lucic got a lucky break while crashing the front of the net. Tyler Toffoli sent a shot off the stick of Halak that ricocheted off the shin of Johnny Boychuk and into the net.
The Kings killed a 5-on-3 penalty with 16:10 left to play in the game, and carried over the momentum into the final fifteen minutes where they cruised to victory.
TURNING POINT
The Kings killed a 5-on-3 penalty with 16:10 left in the game. The two-man advantage should have been a sure goal for the Islanders which would have tied the game at 2-2.
MVP OF THE GAME
Johnny Boychuk's skate. The Islanders defender gifted the Kings what would turn out to be the game-winning goal when the puck deflected off of his skate and into the net in the second period.
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STAT OF THE NIGHT
Jhonas Enroth is 3-0-0 with a .984 save percentage in three games this season.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Way to kill it @LAKings pic.twitter.com/uPGG8K37EM — Gregg (@sirclinksalot) November 13, 2015
Who needs five guys when you got three?
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
"X" marks the spot.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I didn't see the puck. I tried to get it and it bounced everywhere," Lucic said about his game-winning goal."It's one of those ones where you got to be lucky and sometimes the bounces go your way."
NOTES
The Kings have killed off 12 consecutive penalties and 18 of 19 overall. John Tavares has never scored a goal against the LA Kings, and New York was 7-0-1 when the center scores a point this season.
RECORD
New York Islanders (8-6-3) (3-3-1 on the road) 5th in Metropolitan Division.
LA Kings (10-6-0) (6-5-0 at home) 1st in Pacific Division.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Islanders stay in Los Angeles to take on the Anaheim Ducks on the second night of a back-to-back tomorrow at 10:00PM EST at the Honda Center.
The Kings will take the ice again on Saturday when they host the Edmonton Oilers at 10:00PM EST at Staples Center.
