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Gaborik stays hot in Kings win over Coyotes

Dec 21, 2014 - 1:53 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Marian Gaborik scored his sixth goal in the last four games to help the Los Angeles Kings top the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2, Saturday at Staples Center.

His goal tied the game at 2-2 at the end of the second period, and the Kings received goals from Alec Martinez and Trevor Lewis in the third to win their second straight game.

Jeff Carter scored the Kings' first goal and Jonathan Quick made 15 saves in the win.

Devan Dubnyk was under siege all game, facing 35 shots and allowing all four Los Angeles goals.

Arizona, losers of six of its last seven, picked up goals from Martin Hanzal and Kyle Chipchura in the second period.

As the middle period neared its end, Gaborik extended his scoring streak. Anze Kopitar's backhand pass reached Gaborik through traffic, and he quickly got the puck to his forehand and wristed it into the net for the power play tally.

"We came out pretty good dictating the tempo," said Kopitar. "It could easily go south after those two goals, but we stuck together and got it done on the power play."

Martinez scored the second Kings power-play goal of the game early in the third period. Martinez wound up and fired a slapshot from the top of the circle that beat Dubnyk.

Later in the third, Oliver Ekman-Larsson leveled Gaborik with a big hit at the Coyotes blue line. While he was still on the ice, Tyler Toffoli picked up the loose puck and Lewis drove to the net. Toffoli faked a shot, went to his backhand and slid the puck across to Lewis alone in front of the net where he redirected it in for the insurance goal.

Arizona didn't get its first shot of the third period until there was only 9:06 left, and it finished with just three in the final period.

"We just didn't play hard enough and took some stupid penalties especially in the offense zone, it was unacceptable," said Hanzal.

The Kings went on the power play just 15 seconds of the game, but it was Quick who was tested early. He denied David Moss breaking in all alone short- handed before Arizona kept the Los Angeles power play off the board.

Los Angeles got the lead late in the first period. Keith Yandle's clearing attempt was knocked down by Kopitar, and Carter stepped into the pass from Kopitar in the faceoff circle to fire the puck by Dubnyk.

Hardly any time in the second period expired when Hanzal tied the game. He snuck by the Kings defense and his backhand shot beat Quick high.

Minutes later, Chipchura was credited with a goal to give the Coyotes their first lead of the game when his pass attempt was deflected off two different Kings players into the air and past Quick.

Game Notes

The Kings won two of three games in the season series, and it concludes March 16 at Los Angeles ... Arizona is being outscored 37-18 in the third period ... Dubnyk was making his third straight start for struggling starter Mike Smith ... Gaborik has eight points in his four-game point streak ... Coyotes coach Dave Tippett has now been behind the bench for 900 NHL games.