Power play, four-goal first propel Kings past Flyers 5-3

Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist, Anze Kopitar added two assists and the Los Angeles Kings used a four-goal first period to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3

LOS ANGELES —
Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist, Anze Kopitar added two assists and the Los Angeles Kings used a four-goal first period to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Kyle Clifford, Alex Iafallo, Tyler Toffoli and Martin Frk also scored for the Kings, who are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. Jonathan Quick made 32 saves to snap a three-game losing streak.

It is Kopitar’s second straight multi-point game and 10th of the season. His two assists also moved him past Luc Robitaille for fourth in franchise history. Kopitar has 598 in 14 seasons.

It is the first time since Nov. 26, 2014, at Minnesota, that the Kings scored four goals in the first 20 minutes. Thirteen of Los Angeles’ 18 skaters ended up having a goal or assist in the game.

Justin Braun, Claude Giroux and Scott Laughton scored for Philadelphia. Brian Elliott allowed four goals on 15 shots in the first period before being replaced by Carter Hart at the first intermission. Hart made 13 saves.

Los Angeles came in 1 of 13 on the power play in its past five games, but converted on all three of its chances.

After Clifford opened the scoring at 5:31 of the first on a wrist shot., Iafallo redirected Kopitar’s pass from the slot 86 seconds after Clifford’s goal and Toffoli put in a rebound of his own shot at 8:54.

Kempe gave the Kings a 4-0 advantage with 2:08 remaining in the first when he finished off a two-on-one short-handed breakaway with a wrist shot. It was Los Angeles’ fourth short-handed goal of the season and the fourth allowed by Philadelphia.

Bruan got his first goal of the season when his shot went off the skate of Kings’ defenseman Matt Roy and past Quick.

Frk got his third goal in as many games 91 seconds into the third with a wrist shot on the power play. The Flyers closed the gap with goals by Giroux and Laughton, who returned to the lineup after missing seven games due to a groin injury.

NOTES: The last time the Kings scored four goals in any period was Feb. 5, 2019, at New Jersey. … Iafallo extended his point streak to a season-best five games. He has two goals and four assists during the span. … Giroux has a point in four straight games (one goal, three assists).

UP NEXT

Flyers: Continue their six-game trip on Thursday at Vegas.

Kings: Host Nashville on Saturday.

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