On off night, Kings spit on in a loss to Rangers

KINGS

Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stops an in-close shot by the Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson during Sunday’s loss in New York. The Kings are 1-2-1 on their road trip. FRANK FRANKLIN II — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Simmi Buttar

The Associated Press

NEW YORK >> Mika Zibanejad briefly left Sunday’s game with an injury and the New York Rangers’ roster issues became even more problematic.

However, Zibanejad returned later and scored a goal to help the Rangers end a four-game skid with a 5-2 win over the Kings.

The team’s No. 1 center left late in the second period after blocking Drew Doughty’s shot on a power play. He returned for the start of the third period.

Vincent Trocheck had two goals and an assist, Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, Alexis Lafreniere also scored and Adam Fox had two assists for New York. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves.

“Him coming back in the third was definitely a relief,” Trocheck said of Zibanejad.

“It’s a big one for us, just the way we’ve been playing the last couple of games, going on a little slide there,” Trocheck added. “We made sure we were able to bring it back.”

Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller was given a match penalty and ejected after spitting at Doughty late in the first period, leaving the Rangers with just five defensemen the remainder of the game.

“The kid feels bad about it,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of Miller. “He said it was an accident.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Doughty said. “Whether or not he meant to do it, I have no idea. It’s pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty (miffed).”

Viktor Arvidsson had a power-play goal late in the second period, Matt Roy scored early in the third and Phillip Danault had two assists for Los Angeles.

Jonathan Quick stopped four of seven shots for the Kings before being pulled after Trocheck’s second goal late in the second period. He was replaced by Pheonix Copley, who had 12 saves. The Kings are 1-2-1 so far on their five-game road trip.

“When you play the cream of the crop in this league, you can’t have off nights,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

Shesterkin had a bounce-back game a day after he was pulled after allowing five goals on 22 shots in a 6-3 loss at Washington.

“The game they played yesterday set them up for the game they played tonight,” McLellan said.

The Rangers made it 3-0 early in the second period on two goals by Trocheck just 1:35 apart.

The Kings made it 3-2 early in the third period on Roy’s ninth goal at 1:27. But Panarin answered for the Rangers just 44 seconds later for his 19th. Zibanejad added his 31st on the power play at 5:26 to put the Rangers in control.