Dustin Brown’s two goals lead Kings past Coyotes, 6-2

The game was moving along in the second period, typically tight, befitting a Kings-Arizona Coyotes divisional contest.

Twelve seconds and two shots late in the second period abruptly changed that narrative.

The Kings turned a tie game into a blowout, beating Arizona, 6-2, on Tuesday night at Gila River Arena, scoring three power-play goals. Their victory also created more space at the top of the Pacific Division, giving them a nine-point lead over second-place San Jose, which lost at Anaheim.

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Dustin Brown of the Kings had his first two-goal performance in a game this season, his sixth and seventh of the season.

“We should play Arizona more often,” Coach Darryl Sutter said. “He would have 70 goals this year. Instead of five, he’d have 70. Coming into today’s game, three of his five goals were against Arizona.”

The Kings scored five consecutive goals after having trailed, 2-1, starting the turnaround at 9 minutes 57 seconds of the second period.

Defenseman Alec Martinez tied it with a shot from above the left circle, using Kings center Jeff Carter as a screen.

“He did a really good job,” Martinez said. “Oftentimes you’re playing against the best goalies in the world and you’re not going to score on a clean shot from there. ... I don’t think the goalie saw it or if he saw it, he saw it at the last second.

“That doesn’t go in unless [Carter] is standing there.”

Then the Coyotes, and in particular rookie goaltender Louis Domingue, unraveled at the end of the second period.

Defenseman Kevin Connauton’s broken stick ended up leading to a two-on-one break, which forward Marian Gaborik converted, giving the Kings a 3-2 lead at 18:47.

Twelve seconds later, Brown scored his sixth goal of the season with a shot from center ice, stunning a Domingue, making it 4-2 at 18:59 of the second period.

On the Kings’ first shot of the third period, Brown struck again as Domingue gave up another soft goal from the outside.

Gaborik’s goal and the two goals by Brown came on three consecutive shots.

“The end of the second was key,” Brown said. “We got two breaks, really, with a broken stick and Gabby, I don’t think he really misses many shots when he has those types of looks. My first goal was a good bounce.”

And the last time Brown scored twice in a game? Against the Coyotes, of course. It was Dec. 4 here last season.

Earlier this season, Bown was getting all sorts of excellent scoring opportunities in close, and couldn’t capitalize. On Tuesday, they went in, against most reasonable odds.

“I think it all evens out in the end,” Brown said. “This year, I’ve had way more looks, especially early. I was playing good around the net and getting chances and they just weren’t going in.

“Maybe the last couple of weeks I’ve been finding ways to get goals.”

Domingue was lifted after Brown made it 5-2. His replacement, Anders Lindback, gave up one goal as Vinny Lecavalier scored on the power play at 7:30 of the third period.

Jonathan Quick, who faced 25 shots, won for the first time in his last four starts.

“This one was a good lesson for us,” said Arizona’s Dave Tippett, who coached in his 1,000th game. “Los Angeles looks like a team that’s coming out of the break gearing up for a stretch drive and they showed that tonight.”

Said Domingue: “It’s not the first time I’ve faced adversity in my career, so I just have to regroup right away and move on.”

Bob Miller has surgery

Kings broadcaster Bob Miller had quadruple bypass heart surgery in Los Angeles, the team announced.

In an email before the surgery, Miller said he wanted to say “how grateful I am to have heard from so many people throughout the U.S and Canada and how thankful I am for their prayers and support.”

Follow Lisa Dillman on Twitter @reallisa