Game 62; 38-21-4

LOS ANGELES — A return home was just what they needed as the Los Angeles Kings restore their winning ways by defeating the Montreal Canadiens by a 3-2 count.

Photo credit: Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images

The Kings wasted little time getting things started in this one. Just 56 seconds into the game, Anze Kopitar tipped an Alec Martinez point shot home for his 19th to put the silver-and-black out in front. Tanner Pearson then added to the lead as he beat ex-King Ben Scrivens for his 12th just 2:36 later. Jeff Carter had the lone assist but it was Kris Versteeg helping out in his Kings debut by screening the Montreal netminder.

P.K. Subban rifled a top-corner blast late in the period to cut the Los Angeles lead in half but that was all the scoring until the third when, at the 5:16 mark, Dwight King took advantage of a blown tire by the aforementioned Subban to beat Scrivens for his seventh. That goal stood as the winner as Lars Eller cut the lead once again for the Habs but it was too little, too late as the Kings sweep the season series.

With the win, the Kings keep pace with Anaheim, who won earlier in the evening. Both teams are tied now for top spot in the Pacific with San Jose just four points behind.

Speaking of Anaheim, that is who Los Angeles’s next opponent will be as the Kings play host to the despised Ducks on Saturday afternoon.