Kings no match for Caps in 3-1 decision

In Los Angeles, the visiting Washington Capitals’ John Carlson struck for two goals to help the Caps to a 3-1 win over the Kings.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Alexander Ovechkin said. “He’s the hottest guy out there. You can see, two highlight-reel goals again, and he’s good.”

Ilya Samsonov made 22 saves to get the win.

“He’s got composure,” Caps head coach Todd Reirden said. “He’s got presence to him. He’s confident but not arrogant and went right back out and played the puck the next time and made the right play. It says a lot about the future of this guy as a goaltender and a top notch one, so we’re fortunate to have him in our system and it’s worked out well.”

Blake Lizotte scored an unassisted goal leaving the Kings with a single point on the scoresheet.

“I think tonight was a repeat of our night in Anaheim, where we fell behind and then we started to dig our way out,” Kings head coach Todd McLellan said. “And it’s admirable that our guys will do that and play to the end, but the beginning, there has to be a stronger belief system at the beginning.”