Jones, Kings Blank Coyotes, 4-0
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Dustin Brown had two goals and an assist, Martin Jones stopped 26 shots and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Arizona Coyotes, 4-0, Thursday night for their second straight shutout and third in four games.
Two nights after Jonathan Quick stopped 31 shots against the Boston Bruins, Jones extended the Kings' defensive mastery in his first start since blanking Minnesota on Nov. 26.
Alec Martinez had a goal and an assist a day after agreeing to a contract extension, and Jared Stoll added a power-play goal late in the second period.
Arizona goaltender Mike Smith was yanked in another lackluster performance. The Coyotes have lost six straight home games for the first time since early 2009.
The Coyotes gave up 42 shots and were shut out at home for the second straight game.
The Kings entered the night just 2-4-4 on the road and riding a five-game losing streak at Arizona. But the Stanley Cup champions dominated the reeling Coyotes, who have dropped seven of nine.
Defense has been the key as the Kings have won three of four, with Jones proving to be one of the top backup goaltenders in the league.
It was the undrafted Jones' sixth shutout in 24 NHL starts. The 24-year-old's best stop might have come on Tobias Rieder's point-blank, short-handed attempt midway through the final period.
After Joe Vitale failed to get a shot off for Arizona in front midway through the second period, the Kings rushed the other way with precision. Brown's shot through a screen beat Smith on the glove side at 9:57 to make it 2-0.
Brown, who has nine points in eight games, got the Kings on the board when he intercepted Kyle Chipchura's poor pass in the neutral zone, then skated in alone and beat Smith stick-side at 8:59 of the first period for his fifth goal.
The Kings put it out of reach late in the second with Chipchura serving a high-sticking penalty.
Martinez, who got a six-year, $24 million extension, took a shot from the point and Stoll slightly redirected the puck, which slowly squirted through Smith at 15:41.
Coach Dave Tippett then pulled Smith, who stopped 17 shots, for David Dubnyk.
Smith entered the night with more wins (11-4-1) against Los Angeles than any other opponent. But Smith and the Coyotes have looked nothing like the team that lost to the Kings in the 2012 Western Conference Final as they sank farther toward the bottom in the Pacific Division.
NOTES: The Coyotes have gone eight periods at home without scoring. ... The Kings improved to 11-0-3 when they score first. ... Kings RW Marian Gaborik (upper body) sat out a third straight game. ... Coyotes D Connor Murphy (upper body) missed his second straight game.
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