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Jones finally gives up a goal, but Kings still beat Leafs

Dec 12, 2013 - 5:07 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeff Carter notched the go-ahead goal and one assist, with Mike Richards contributing two helpers, as Los Angeles downed Toronto, 3-1, at Air Canada Centre.

Drew Doughty and Kyle Clifford also lit the lamp for the Kings, who have won five straight games, including the first two on a four-game road trip.

Martin Jones had his shutout streak halted at 177 minutes, 16 seconds, but nonetheless moved to 4-0-0 on his young career with a 38-save performance.

"I just make sure I'm ready when I am called upon, just try to give these guys a chance to win," Jones said. "We've got a great team here."

Cody Franson scored and Jonathan Bernier made 20 stops for the Maple Leafs, who stumbled to their seventh loss in nine outings.

"That was much closer to what we need," Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle. "Hey, we're third in the Eastern Conference in goals scored. It's on the defensive side where our work ethic and commitment hasn't been there."

Carter slipped a shot between Bernier's pads from the right wing with 9:40 left in regulation, and Los Angeles assumed a 2-1 edge.

Phil Kessel pushed a James van Riemsdyk dish just wide of the left post inside of 2 1/2 minutes to go, then Clifford potted the insurance marker off a Richards pass at 18:01.

Doughty beat Bernier with a rising shot from the left point late in the game's first power play, and the Kings led 1-0 with 9 1/2 minutes left in the opening period.

Jones kept his streak intact early in the second with a pad stop on a Kessel breakaway.

Toronto had a 5-on-3 advantage for 64 seconds late in the period, and Jones' shutout streak was finally put to rest on Franson's one-timer from a sharp angle on the left wing with 5 1/2 minutes left.

LA's netminder made three more stops on the ensuing one-man edge and held the Leafs until intermission.

Game Notes

The Kings have won three of the last four meetings with the Leafs, including all three in Toronto, since January of 2010 ... Toronto welcomed back forward Joffrey Lupul after a seven-game absence due to a groin strain ... LA forward Colin Fraser left the game in the second period and did not return with a head injury ... Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf did not play, serving the first of a two-game suspension for hitting Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Sunday ... Los Angeles hasn't given up a first-period goal in 17 straight games.