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What we learned from the Kings’ 6-1 win over Edmonton

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First off, yes, it really was that one-sided and happened to be the Kings’ seventh straight victory over the Oilers.

The Hunger Games, starring Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson

They are hard-working, hungry and pushing one another to new levels. You would think that these youngsters were still in search of their first Stanley Cup, not coming off one in June.

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Pearson’s output was especially efficient on his first three-point night. He had two shots on goal and scored twice and added an assist in 14 minutes and 44 seconds of action.

The line of Pearson-Jeff Carter-Toffoli has combined for 13 points in the last two games, and has a combined plus-minus rating of plus-22 in the last three games.

Roster flexibility helps during a rash of injuries

The Kings have plenty of versatile players. Carter’s move back to center with the kids last season was a better utilization of his natural skills. It was like coming home for him, a far better fit.

With forward Marian Gaborik out for an undetermined spell with a recurrence of his preseason injury, Kings Coach Darryl Sutter didn’t have a lot of options. He put Mike Richards, who had been centering the fourth line, on the left wing with center Anze Kopitar and right wing Justin Williams.

Against the Oilers, Williams scored his first goal of the season and Richards recorded his first point, assisting on Pearson’s second goal of the game, on the power play.

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“Mike did a really good job,” Sutter said. “And him and Kopi are comfortable together, they’ve done it a lot of on power play. Quite honest, there’s times during the regular season when we’ve struggled, other years, we’ve put Mike and Kopi together, quietly, for games.

“It’s not just Mike. We’re lucky this team has guys that can play two or three positions. Like Carts. Guys that can move around, which always helped out.”

Fight club gets a new member

Hey, Andy Andreoff has his name on an NHL game summary now, and no one can ever take that away. It’s little wonder he looked like the one of the happiest guys to head to the penalty box after his quick scrap with the Oilers’ Matt Hendricks.

This was the NHL debut for the Kings prospect who got into the lineup because of injuries to Gaborik and Trevor Lewis, who went on injured reserve earlier on Tuesday.

“I just wanted to get the jitters out right away — either a hit or a fight, I saw Hendricks right there and I asked him to fight. So I’m kind of happy he dropped the gloves with me,” Andreoff said.

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Twitter: @reallisa

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