In Tampa on Saturday afternoon, the Los Angeles Kings found enough offense to dispatch the Lightning, 4-2.
Justin Williams scored twice and Tyler Toffoli and Drew Doughty added one each in the first win on a five-game roadie for the Kings.
Jonathan Quick made 26 saves to get the Kings in the W column – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Jonathan Quick, made 26 saves for the in.
“A win is important no matter where you get it,” Quick said. “Two points is what we needed. We scored four goals and that should be enough most nights.”
Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman scored for the Bolts who closed a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 early in the third.
“We didn’t start the game well being down 3-0,” Lightning center Steven Stamkos said. “We’re not going to win too many games in this league starting behind like that. We never quit, but the fourth goal was kind of a backbreaker. We didn’t seem to respond well after that.”
Williams scored his second at 7:46 of the third to put breathing room under the Kings’ lead.
“It’s funny, I didn’t think I played all that well but somehow ended up with a couple of goals,” Williams said. “Some nights you play really well and have nothing to show for it. But that first goal doesn’t happen without Trevor making a terrific play. I just happened to be the guy lucky enough to be on the other end of it. This was a big win for us on this road trip and hopefully we can go to Columbus (for a game Monday) and close things out.”
The goal was a m major lift for a Kings club low on confidence in a Pacific Division race they are quickly falling out.
“That fourth goal was huge because we’ve let down our guard and given up some leads this season,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “It’s been frustrating to have the lead and lost them, but tonight we fought through it and got a win against a very good team on their home ice.”
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