VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Drew Doughty scored early in the third period to lift the Los Angeles Kings over the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Saturday night.
Kyle Clifford scored the tying goal 2:22 into the third to set up Doughty’s winner, and Tyler Toffoli and Marian Gaborik also scored for Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick made 22 saves.
Troy Stecher, Nikolay Goldobin and Nic Dowd scored for Vancouver, which got 32 saves from Jacob Markstrom. Ben Hutton had two assists.
Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty, back right, celebrates his goal with Tyler Toffoli (73) and Kyle Clifford (13) against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings improved to 3-3-2 since an eight-game winning streak, while the Canucks dropped to 2-8-1 over their past 11.
After the teams exchanged goals early in the third, Doughty picked up the puck after his initial shot was blocked by defenseman Alexander Edler, then ripped his seventh of the season at 6:49. Victimized by Goldobin on his goal late in the second, the Kings’ star blue liner swung his arm in celebration along the boards with teammates as the Canucks fumed at the officials, apparently angry that the Kings had too many men on the ice – a grievance that appeared to be backed by replays.
Sam Gagner, who had two goals and an assist in Vancouver’s 5-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday, rang a shot off the crossbar midway through the period that bounced down in the crease and stayed out.
Markstrom kept the Canucks alive with a big stop on Toffoli, but Vancouver couldn’t find a way past Quick.
The home side grabbed a 3-2 lead 41 seconds into the third when Dowd, who was acquired from Los Angeles on Dec. 7, finished on a 2-on-1 rush by beating Quick with his first.
The Kings replied just 1:41 later when Trevor Lewis circled back off the rush before laying the puck in front to Clifford, who eventually banged home his first.
Stecher put Vancouver ahead 4:31 into the first, but Toffoli and Gaborik scored a minute apart later in the period to make it 2-1 Kings. Gaborik’s goal came on the power play.
Goldobin tied it late in the second period by toe-dragging around Doughty and moving into the slot before unleashing a backhand that fooled Quick.
NOTES: Canucks rookie Brock Boeser, who leads all NHL rookies as well as his team in goals (21) and points (38), entered having scored in four straight games. He failed to get on the scoresheet against Los Angeles.
UP NEXT
Kings: Visit Edmonton on Tuesday night.
Canucks: Host Anaheim on Tuesday night before starting a seven-game road trip.
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Vancouver Canucks’ Thomas Vanek, right, of Austria, stands up after being checked into the net behind Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Erik Gudbranson, left, and Los Angeles Kings’ Jake Muzzin collide during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Iafallo, left, skates up against Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom, of Sweden, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Kings’ Kyle Clifford (13) scores against Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom, of Sweden, as Erik Gudbranson (44) and Ben Hutton (27) watch during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Ben Hutton, left, checks Los Angeles Kings’ Dustin Brown during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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