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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drew Doughty, Carl Grundström and Trevor Moore scored in a dominant first period, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
Moore had a goal and an assist for his first multipoint game of the season, while captain Anze Kopitar scored an empty-net goal from the opposite goal line and added an assist. Cal Petersen made 19 saves to end his five-start losing streak for the Kings, who looked sharp in just their third win in 10 games.
Los Angeles and St. Louis were scheduled for two consecutive games at Staples Center this week, but Monday’s game was postponed after a blizzard stranded the Kings in Denver, where they had just lost back-to-back games to the Avalanche.
Mike Hoffman scored and Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots for the well-rested Blues, who have lost five straight. Despite having the previous three days off, St. Louis got off to a timid start in the first period and eventually failed to earn a point for only the second time in nine games.
Los Angeles won for the fifth time in seven meetings this season with its West Division rivals.
Doughty got the Kings started 3:21 in with a shot from the slot on a power play for his seventh goal of the season and the Kings’ 26th man-advantage goal in only 28 games. Kopitar got an assist for his 20th power-play point of the season, second-most in the NHL.
Just 58 seconds later, Grundström charged the net and stuffed a shot past Binnington to end his 14-game goal drought.
St. Louis didn’t record its first shot until 8:03 into the first period, and Moore ended his 11-game goal drought late in the period.
Hoffman scored on a long, deflected shot through traffic late in the second period, but the Blues mounted little offense.
Kopitar sealed the win by shoveling a backhand from the deep corner of the Kings’ end into St. Louis’ empty net with 1:40 to play.
BOZAK BACK
Blues center Tyler Bozak returned from long-term injured reserve after missing 21 games since Jan. 26 with a concussion. The 34-year-old veteran played 20 shifts and took nine faceoffs.
PASSING WAYNER
Doughty’s power-play goal was his 64th, passing Wayne Gretzky for ninth place in Kings history. Doughty has played 408 more games in Silver and Black than The Great One.
UP NEXT
Blues: At Sharks on Friday.
Kings: Host Vegas on Friday.
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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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