Tyler Toffoli on Kings’ hot streak: ‘We’ve got a couple of good bounces’

Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli has six goals, and someone, watching the team from afar, suggested that it might have to do with power forward Milan Lucic creating more space for the kid.

“No. Lucic makes his own room,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said after Tuesday’s morning skate here. “Jeff Carter makes Tyler Toffoli go. Jeff’s speed in the middle of the ice is clearly the big benefit to Tyler.

“Tyler finishes the job. You need guys that can do it. He’s a guy that can score. Tyler and Jeff and Tanner [Pearson] were a really good line for us last year until Tanner got hurt. It really affected our team last year.”

Pearson was injured on Jan. 10 against the Jets at Staples Center, suffering a broken leg, and required surgery, ending his season. Also, that same day, Toffoli was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Carter was the lone member of the 70s line who managed to stay healthy and uninjured.

This season, Toffoli has no assists and six goals, two of them game-winners. Of the six, two have come on the power play and one shorthanded.

Does he see any similarities between his starts from last October and this October?

“Last year, to be honest, last year I thought we were playing better,” Toffoli said. “At this time of the year, me, Carts and [Pearson] had great chemistry right off the start. I thought we were moving the puck better.

“This year, we’ve got a couple of good bounces, a couple of good shots and they’ve just been going in.”

The key is staying composed in the face of adversity and success. The Kings are 5-3. The Jets are 5-2-1 and coming off a convincing performance against Minnesota. Goalie Jonathan Quick will start for the Kings on Tuesday night.

“Our group of guys, we have no panic,” Toffoli said of the losses in the first three games. “We’re not going crazy here, winning these games so far this season.”