What we learned from the Kings’ 5-2 victory over the Capitals

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom were held scoreless. Jussi Jokinen scored the game-winning goal, and Kurtis MacDermid and Trevor Lewis got two assists.

Just like everyone predicted when the Kings played the Washington Capitals, right?

The Kings will take it any way, and that was the case in a 5-2 win on Thursday at Capital One Arena. The marquee names were still integral, but the depth players hogged the stat sheet.

Here’s what we learned:

The old guys can still play. Jokinen, 34, wasn’t the only veteran to shine. Marian Gaborik, 35, got his first goals of the season, although one was on a bounce off a Capitals player and the other an empty-net goal.

But as the hockey cliche goes, they all count. Gaborik has looked superb four games into the season, particularly with Adrian Kempe, and Kings coach John Stevens wants Thursday to be a big step.

“You worry about him dropping off a little bit because he gets so ready to play the first couple of games,” Stevens said. “But I think he’s had [four] really good games for us. He and Kempe seem to have some good chemistry together. … We just got to keep getting him reloading and keep him where he is, because he’s been a really solid player for us.”

The Kings’ stars still made a difference. In a game in which the third and fourth line forwards and third pairing defensemen shared the scoring load, credit should be also be given to Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin and Anze Kopitar, among others, for holding the Capitals to two goals and keeping their star players quiet.

Let’s see more of this type of hockey. This was one of the more entertaining games of the season, if only because of pace of play, high-quality scoring chances and great goalie saves by two elite netminders.

The Kings and Capitals took 52 total faceoffs, a low number in a league that regularly sees more than 70 faceoffs in a 60-minute game. More free-flowing play and fewer stoppages keep fans in their seats and viewers glued to the television set.

Doughty summed it up when asked about defending Ovechkin.

“That was so much fun,” he said. “I live for that stuff.”

curtis.zupke@latimes.com

Follow Curtis Zupke on Twitter @curtiszupke