What we learned from the Kings’ 3-2 shootout victory over the Penguins

A few more takeaways after the Kings found yet another way to win — with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik scoring in the shootout — and their winning streak hit six consecutive games.

Playing the Kings can be costly

Just ask Mike Johnston.

After Friday’s game, Johnston, the Pittsburgh Penguins coach, praised the Kings and said they were the class of the Western Conference (along with the Dallas Stars) and talked about how difficult they were to play against.

Johnston was out of a job before lunchtime in Pittsburgh on Saturday and was replaced by Mike Sullivan, who had been the coach at the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Quick unfazed by heavy workload

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick will finally get a break because backup Jhonas Enroth is scheduled to start against his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, on Saturday night.

Quick has made nine straight starts, beginning on Nov. 22 at Carolina, where he was replaced after 40 minutes.

He faced 42 shots on Friday in Pittsburgh, making 40 saves. Quick is 10-0-3 in 13 regular-season games when he has made 40 or more saves, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Confidence growing among the kids … and the “older” players

There are nine players on the Kings’ current roster who were not on the roster for the opener for the 2014-15 season.

(This doesn’t include defenseman Jake Muzzin, who didn’t play in the opener against the Sharks last season because of injury.)

Quick was asked about the growing confidence of the newcomers and youngsters during the six-game winning streak.

“That comes with experience, game time, getting out there, playing in different buildings, playing against different guys,” Quick said. “You can see they’re getting a little more comfortable.

“We want to see them continue to do that, and the older guys that have been around for a little bit, continue to push ourselves and push them at the same time and keep working.”

Follow Lisa Dillman on Twitter @reallisa