Kings beat Columbus, 2-1, end five-game losing streak
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It took a veritable offensive explosion, but the Kings ended their five-game losing streak Thursday and got a win for interim Coach John Stevens when they scored twice in the third period and clawed out a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Davis Drewiske, with a point shot at 4:33 of the third period, and Dustin Brown, with the deflection of a shot by Drew Doughty at 8:12, provided enough offense for the Kings to edge the Blue Jackets, who rank 30th in the NHL.
Jeff Carter’s deflection of a bouncing puck at 16:43 of the second period had given Columbus a 1-0 lead, but Drewiske matched that at 4:33 of the third period with his first goal since Oct. 6, 2009. The Blue Jackets complained that Brown had interfered with goalie Curtis Sanford, and replays showed that Brown appeared to have elbowed the goalie with his left arm, but the goal stood.
The goal ended a scoring drought of 130 minutes and 35 seconds for the Kings, who still have not scored more than two goals in any of their last 10 games.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots for the Kings, who continue this trip Saturday at Detroit and Monday at Toronto. Darryl Sutter, presumed to be their next coach, is not expected to meet them on the trip but is expected to take over next Tuesday.
The Kings are 1-1 under Stevens, who replaced Terry Murray on Monday. Stevens is expected to return to his duties as an assistant coach when Sutter takes over.
Center Mike Richards (head injury) is scheduled to join the team in Detroit, but it’s unclear if he will play in either of the last two games of the trip.
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-- Helene Elliott, reporting from Columbus, Ohio