For now, fans will show this goaltender mercy

Puppy love comes easy to Kings fans where goaltenders are concerned.

They once thought minor league journeyman Barry Brust was the answer . . . for about a week.

So there was little surprise when Erik Ersberg was cheered when announced as the starter in net Saturday night, such was the microwave-quick infatuation that developed in a week. This, though, may have some long-term relationship possibilities.

Ersberg made the most of his third consecutive start, making 24 saves in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. His job was made easier by power-play goals by Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Drew Doughty.

But Ersberg set a tone early at Staples Center.

“When your goalie plays like that, it makes you more comfortable out there,” said Kopitar, who had a goal and two assists. “There were a couple shifts in the second period where he stood tall. He made those saves and we scored some goals and it’s a 3-0 lead. It changes the game.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound Ersberg was not on anyone’s radar a year ago, when he was an unknown Swedish import. The future in net belonged to Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick for the Kings. Ersberg, though, started 13 games at the end of the season, finishing with a team-best 2.48 goals-against average.

“He’s not the biggest guy in the net, so there are times where he may go down a little early and gets exposed upstairs,” said Bill Ranford, the Kings’ goaltending coach. “But I think with his game -- he is a stand-up goal and a butterfly goalie -- he does a pretty good job of not letting his size be an issue too much.”

Ersberg made his first start of the season against the Ducks on Tuesday, losing a 1-0 overtime game. He hardly had to break a sweat against the Florida Panthers, seeing only three shots through two periods of the 3-2 victory.

“Really, I’ve felt pretty comfortable since the first five minutes of that game against he Ducks,” Ersberg said. “It felt normal for me. You know, this is what you dream about, playing in the NHL. You have to enjoy it.”

The Blues didn’t. They pressed the issue Saturday. Ersberg had an answer for nearly everything they threw at him.

He stacked his pads to deny David Perron to end a three-on-one threat at the start of the second period.

Later in the period, Ersberg survived a shooting-gallery power play, deflecting four, extending his right pad to deflect one.

Time after time, the Blues got one shot and were left wanting at the crease with no rebound to pounce on. That allowed the Kings to take a 3-0 lead into the third period, then they held on as the Blues cut the lead to 4-3 with 1:26 left.

“He really does a nice job controlling rebounds,” Ranford said. “In this day and age, with all the rebound-style goals that are scored, if you can suck up those pucks it is going to give your team a chance to win.”

The Kings made the most of that chance, outworking the Blues through much of the game.

Kopitar scooped a rebound, circled the net and jammed the puck in for a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game. Frolov redirected a Kyle Quincy shot in the second period.

Doughty then scored after lining up a shot in the slot for a 4-1 lead 12 minutes into the third period.

It was only the second time this season that the Kings have had more than one power-play goal in a game.

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chris.foster@latimes.com