Column: Second line continues to power Kings as they beat Panthers, 4-1

What figured to be the Kings’ second line has been first-rate since it was assembled a few games into the season. Milan Lucic’s north-south style didn’t fit with the east-west games of Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik, but Lucic has meshed so well with speedy Jeff Carter and gifted scorer Tyler Toffoli that they’ve carried the Kings to the top of the Pacific Division.

Carter had a goal and an assist, Lucic scored in the third period and Toffoli had two assists Saturday as the Kings produced a veritable offensive explosion in a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at Staples Center. The Kings had scored 15 goals in their previous eight home games but got a lift from killing a five-on-three Florida power play and, soon after, got to goaltender Roberto Luongo three times in four minutes 18 seconds in the second period. Lucic redirected Carter’s throw-it-on-net attempt at 8:37 of the third period to ensure the Kings — who held Florida to a season-low 19 shots against — would win for the ninth time in 11 games since a 0-3 start.

“That’s pretty good, especially considering I think we could have won those other two that we lost,” said defenseman Drew Doughty, whose power-play goal scored from one knee at 16:39 of the second period was his first this season and the game winner. “I think we kind of blew those two games away. I’m happy with nine out of 11, but I think it should have been 11 out of 11.”

If their other lines were contributing, their record might be even better, and that remains a concern. But No. 1 center Anze Kopitar did cap their quick spree Saturday with an assist from Dustin Brown, poking the puck into the net as it sat near the post.

“I thought we didn’t give a whole lot in the second period. I don’t know how many shots they had, but it didn’t seem like a lot and it seemed like we were playing pretty good,” Kopitar said of the Kings’ 20-4 edge in the period. “It was just really sticking with it. There are pucks that don’t go your way and there were a couple pucks that went our way. We were due to score a couple in a short span like that. It was very nice to see.”

The Panthers, winless in seven games at Staples Center since Nov. 27, 2002, scored first Saturday when Nick Bjugstad beat Jonathan Quick to the far (stick) side at 19:31 of the first period. The Kings could have fallen into a deeper hole when Carter was penalized for goalkeeper interference at 7:57 of the second period and Doughty joined him in the penalty box for delay of game at 8:42, but they limited the Panthers to one shot.

“To be able to kill that off was a big emotional momentum-changer for us, I think,” Lucic said. “And to come out two or three shifts later and tie it up, 1-1, was probably the turning point of the game. It was good to see the killer instinct in the guys to not look back after that and continue to get the pucks on the net and get some big goals.”

The Kings pulled even at 13:16 of the second period on Carter’s finish of a setup from Toffoli. “I think he’s controlling the play and using myself and Toff really well to support him,” Lucic said of Carter. Defenseman Derek Forbort, replacing the struggling Christian Ehrhoff, earned the second assist, his first NHL point.

Doughty put the Kings ahead 13 seconds after Erik Gudbranson was penalized for hooking. A right-handed shooter stationed in the left circle, he took a pass from Jake Muzzin — who had gotten the puck from Toffoli — and took a one-timer that trickled past Luongo.

Doughty said he enjoyed the scoring spree but got greater satisfaction from the team’s defensive effort. “We’re most happy about that one goal against. I think that’s more something to be proud of than the four,” he said. “That was a good overall game and it was a must-win so it was big to get two points.”

Getting goals from other sources will soon become a must too. For now, they’re looking first to their second line.

Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenorhelen