Kopitar, Pearson lead Kings past Canadiens 3-2
LOS ANGELES (AP) Anze Kopitar and Tanner Pearson scored less than 3 minutes apart early in the first period and Dwight King scored on a breakaway in the third, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
The victory kept the Kings tied for the Pacific Division lead with the Anaheim Ducks, who come to Staples Center for a Saturday matinee against their Southern California rivals after tying a franchise record with their 10th straight victory Thursday night at Arizona.
Jonathan Quick finished with 13 saves in the opener of a five-game homestand. He handed the Canadiens their only shutout loss of the season on Dec. 17, making a season-high 45 saves in a 3-0 victory.
P.K. Subban and Lars Eller scored and Andrei Markov had two assists for the Canadiens, who are 11-25-3 following a 19-4-3 start that included a season-opening nine-game winning streak.