What we learned from the Kings’ 3-0 victory at St. Louis on Tuesday

This team has some fight in it, and not just the pugilistic kind (though the Kings earned a share of the NHL lead in major fighting penalties with six through Tuesday’s games).

Despite losing center Anze Kopitar after he took a blow to the head in the first period, the Kings didn’t let up. They regrouped, moved bodies around, and got the job done. Five forwards recorded season-highs in minutes: Andy Andreoff (11:56), Milan Lucic (18:41), Trevor Lewis (19:42), Tyler Toffoli (20:22) and Jeff Carter (23:30). Carter also took 29 faceoffs, winning 13. Jordan Weal, who took Jordan Nolan’s lineup spot, played 6:57 in only his second game this season.

“I thought we had really good purpose to our game right from the start. Played the whole game,” Coach Darryl Sutter said. “We played a complete game.”

Carter said he wasn’t tired after playing so much on the second night of a back-to-back sequence. “It felt good,” Carter said. “I’ve played games you play over 20 minutes and you almost feel better. Pretty much every other shift you’re going. I enjoy it.”

One interesting note: Dustin Brown, who has yet to score a goal this season, played a season-low 14:33.

Top line still not good enough for Sutter

Although left wing Tanner Pearson scored the Kings’ second goal, Sutter wasn’t about to let up in his criticism of the youngster or of the lack of scoring from the top line.

“We need him to step up,” Sutter said after Pearson’s second goal this season and first at even strength. “All them guys, we need some scoring from them. We’re not getting it from the top line.

“Jeff’s line was awesome tonight,” he added, referring to the trio of Carter, Toffoli and Lucic. “If we’re not getting it from the top then that next group of guys really gotta produce for us.”

McBain returns

Defenseman Jamie McBain, who missed Monday’s game for the birth of his and wife Liz’s first child, was running largely on emotion Tuesday when he returned to the lineup. Playing in place of Derek Forbort, McBain logged a season-high 15:29 of ice time and was steady throughout the game.

“It’s been pretty hectic,” he said. “A few flights and some craziness. It was exciting to be back there with my wife [Monday] and be part of my kid’s first day but it felt good to be back with this group as well. … Anytime you’re back with this group of guys, adrenaline takes over and you just go play the game.”

Voynov files for retirement

One thing we learned that wasn’t game-related: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that former Kings defenseman Slava Voynov had filed retirement papers with the league. Voynov served jail time after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and afterward spent time in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities. He left the U.S. in September before he could be deported.

The Kings retain his NHL rights “to the extent our retirement rules provide. Very complicated,” Daly said via email.

Twitter: @helenenothelen