Kings continue to run into roadblocks
NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad briefly left Sunday’s game because of 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, and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for New York. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves.
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 only five defensemen the rest 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 a pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty [upset].”
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 the Kings.
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 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 bounceback game a day after he was pulled as a result of giving up five goals in 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 Kings still trail division-leading Vegas by two points and lead third-place Edmonton by two.