National Hockey League
Los Angeles 4, Detroit 2
When: 10:30 PM ET, Sunday, October 7, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Referees: Marc Joannette, Frederic L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: Ryan Gibbons, Darren Gibbs
Attendance: 18230

Alex Iafallo had two goals and Ilya Kovalchuk added two assists as the host Los Angeles Kings beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 on Sunday night.

Iafallo scored twice in the third period, including an empty-netter with 21 seconds left, and Anze Kopitar and Paul LaDue also scored to help the Kings record their first victory in their second game of the season. Los Angeles playing without goalie Jonathan Quick, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury in practice Saturday.

Kovalchuk, who spent the past five seasons in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, assisted on Kopitar's goal early in the second period and also set up Iafallo's first goal midway through the third period. The first was his 400th NHL assist. He has 417 goals in a 12-year NHL career.

Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin scored their first goals of the season on power plays for the Red Wings, who lost their second straight. Detroit began a stretch in which it will play six of seven on the road.

Larkin's goal with 4:00 remaining in the third period cut Detroit's deficit to 3-2. The Red Wings pulled goalie Jonathan Bernier with 1:49 remaining but did not get another good look.

Kings goalie Jack Campbell made 36 saves in his sixth career start. Campbell was 2-0-2 in five games (four starts) for Los Angeles last season.

Quick, who made his 10th opening-day start for the Kings on Friday, will miss at least three games, and the Kings listed no timetable for his return.

Bernier made 21 saves in his first start of the season after Jimmy Howard started the opener, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kopitar scored the first goal of the game at 4:21 of the second period on a backhander over Bernier's glove from the right circle after taking a pass from Kovalchuk.

Mantha shot from deep in the right circle tied the game at 1 at 8:45 of the second period.

LaDue gave the Kings a 2-1 lead when he scored on a severe angle from the right circle at 16:14 of the second period, the puck getting through Bernier's pads.

Iafallo took a pass from Kovalchuk and scored at point-blank range for a 3-1 lead at 9:15 of the third period. Bernier dislodged the net before the shot, but the officials ruled that the goal stood.

Detroit defenseman Trevor Daley sustained an undisclosed injury eight minutes into the game and did not return, leaving the Red Wings with three rookie defensemen.

Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty played in his 330th consecutive game, tying Kopitar's franchise record.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Los Angeles
Dennis Cholowski 2 Points Alex Iafallo 2
Dylan Larkin 1 Goals Alex Iafallo 2
Dennis Cholowski 2 Assists Ilya Kovalchuk 2
Dylan Larkin 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jonathan Bernier .875 Save Percentage Jack Campbell .947
Jonathan Bernier 21 Saves Jack Campbell 36
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Detroit 38 2 2-4 3-3 25 38
Los Angeles 25 4 0-3 2-4 27 39
Upcoming Games
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg. The Kings have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Detroit will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.