Kings Score Win Over Blues, NHL Roundup

By ESPN

The Los Angeles Kings are tired of scrapping and rallying every night, so they put together a rare blowout victory.

The St. Louis Blues are getting far too familiar with being on the other side of these games, particularly with struggling Jake Allen in net.

Jake Muzzin and Tanner Pearson scored two goals apiece in the Kings' fourth victory in six games, 5-1 over St. Louis on Thursday night.

Trevor Lewis also scored and Peter Budaj made 21 saves for the Kings, who raced to a 4-0 lead early in the second period with a rare offensive burst from one of the NHL's lowest-scoring teams. Los Angeles won by more than one goal for the first time since Dec. 22.

Muzzin scored his fifth goal of the season 3:18 after the opening faceoff. The steady defenseman added another for just the second multi-goal game of his career and his first since March 5, 2013, also against St. Louis.

"It starts with a good start," Muzzin said. "Our starts lately haven't been the greatest, so we focused on that a little more. We were able to do it tonight. ... We've given up a few goals lately in the first period, and we wanted to play with a lead for a change."

Los Angeles chased Allen with Muzzin's second goal, sending the St. Louis goalie to the bench early in his second straight game.

Carter Hutton replaced Allen and gave up two quick goals to Pearson, deepening the Blues' goaltending quandary. St. Louis has given up 30 goals in its last eight games, with Allen struggling for good form.

"This is really on the athlete," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "There's times in your young career where you just say you've had enough, and you've got to go turn it around the other way. He's in a position where he's the guy that has to really take charge here. He's got to man up and get better, and we've got to get better in front of him. ... We're playing losing hockey right now. When you're chasing from behind early, you're in trouble, and we've been doing that."

Paul Stastny scored on a skate deflection for the Blues, who have lost four of six after opening their three-game California road trip with another defensive disappointment.

"We've been beating a dead horse on, `We need better goaltending," Hitchcock said. "But it seems like right now, we're at a stage where every mistake goes in our net, and we've got to be careful."

Marian Gaborik had two assists for the Kings in his first multi-point game since Feb. 9. All-Star Jeff Carter and Dustin Brown also had two assists apiece, and the Kings got a strong game from Budaj after he was pulled from their 6-4 loss to Dallas on Monday.

"This is a game where he needed to bounce back, and we were able to help him have some success," Pearson said of Budaj.

Thursday, January 12 Scoreboard

Philadelphia 5, Vancouver 4 (SO)

Ottawa 4, Pittsburgh 1

Tampa Bay 4, Buffalo 2

Nashville 2, Boston 1

Minnesota 7, Montreal 1

Dallas 5, Detroit 2

Anaheim 4, Colorado 1

Edmonton 3, New Jersey 2 (OT)

Los Angeles 5, St. Louis 1

Friday, January 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Toronto at New York Rangers, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Washington, 6 p.m.

Columbus at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.

New York Islanders at Florida, 6:30 p.m.

Buffalo at Carolina, 6:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Calgary, 8 p.m.

Winnipeg at Arizona, 8 p.m.

Saturday, January 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Philadelphia at Boston, noon

Nashville at Colorado, 2 p.m.

New York Rangers at Montreal, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Columbus at Florida, 6 p.m.

New York Islanders at Carolina, 6 p.m.

Anaheim at Arizona, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Winnipeg at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

St. Louis at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

Philadelphia at Washington, 11:30 a.m.

Minnesota at Chicago, 6 p.m.

New Jersey at Vancouver, 6 p.m.

St. Louis at Anaheim, 8 p.m.