DETROIT — Jimmy Howard made a season-high 42 saves and Dylan Larkin scored his 12th goal of the season to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
Dennis Cholowski and Frans Nielsen also scored the Red Wings, who improved to 13-6-2 in their last 21 games. Howard came within 6:38 of his first shutout of the season.
Anze Kopitar scored the only goal for Los Angeles.
Cholowski opened the scoring for the Red Wings, beating goalie Jonathan Quick high to the short side in the first period. Nielsen made it 2-0 in the second when he collected his own rebound and scored after Quick had slid out of position.
Larkin’s unassisted goal came late in the second. He intercepted an errant pass near the top of the slot and moved to his right to elude a sliding Los Angeles player. Then he was alone against Quick and scored to make it 3-0.
The Kings, who are tied with Chicago for the fewest points in the NHL, have been shut out only once this season. They spoiled Howard’s bid in the third when Kopitar tapped in a loose puck at the doorstep.
NOTES: Each team had only one power play and failed to score. … The Kings have not won when trailing after two periods since Jan. 26, when they overcame a 1-0 deficit against Calgary. … It was the fifth goal this season for both Cholowski and Nielsen and the eighth for Kopitar. … Howard’s previous season high was 40 saves on Nov. 6 against Vancouver.
UP NEXT
Kings: Visit Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Red Wings: Visit Washington on Tuesday night.
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Noah Trister, The Associated Press
