Kings shake off slow start to beat Blue Jackets 5-2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trevor Moore scored short-handed, Alex Laferriere got his ninth goal of the season, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Saturday night.

Los Angeles is 4-1-1 over its past six games. That is also the Kings’ mark on home ice to start the season, picking up where they left off after posting the league’s best record following the All-Star break in 2023-24.

The Kings overcame a sluggish first period, falling behind on Dmitri Voronkov’s goal, before they took charge with Vladislav Gavrikov’s shot through several screens and Warren Foegele’s finish off the rush 1:56 apart in the second.

Ivan Provorov had a power-play goal for the Blue Jackets, who have lost four straight, with three of those defeats coming in regulation. It was their first loss in five games when leading after the first period this season.

Brandt Clarke added an empty-netter in the final minute for Los Angeles, and David Rittich had 24 saves.

Blue Jackets: The offense has dried up for Columbus, scoring nine goals over their past five games. They had averaged 4.13 goals over their first eight games.

Kings: Samuel Helenius, a 2021 second-round pick, made his NHL debut and got his first career point with the secondary assist on Foegele’s goal.

Laferriere tipped Joel Edmundson's shot in at 7:05 of the third, giving Los Angeles the insurance goal it had struggled to create earlier in the year.

After picking up three more tonight, the Kings have scored 27 goals in the third period, continuing their knack for getting going as games go on. They have scored 11 in the first and 16 in the second.

The Blue Jackets visit Anaheim on Sunday, and Kings visit Calgary on Monday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings with right wing Justin Danforth (17), defenseman Damon Severson (78) and right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) celebrates scoring a goal with right wing Adrian Kempe (9) and defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

linesman Jonathan Deschamps (80) and linesman Brandon Gawryletz (64) break up a fight between Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings with teammates on the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele celebrates scoring a goal with center Akil Thomas (26) and Samuel Helenius, center, against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was ruled out of Tuesday night's game at the Utah Jazz because of left ankle soreness.

Nurkic started each of the Suns’ first 10 games, averaging 9.9 points and 10.2 rebounds in 24.4 minutes. He played just 15 minutes in Sunday’s 127-118 overtime loss to Sacramento, going scoreless and grabbing seven rebounds before exiting after the first half with the ankle injury.

The Suns were also missing Kevin Durant, who suffered a left calf strain in a win over Dallas on Nov. 8 and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Ryan Dunn started in Durant's place and Mason Plumlee started for Nurkic.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)