Flyers-Kings Preview

The Los Angeles Kings are beginning the new year with a sizable Pacific Division lead because of a balanced effort on both ends of the ice.

Little is going right for the low-scoring Philadelphia Flyers.

They have won four straight meetings in Los Angeles, though, and they'll look to snap the Kings' four-game winning streak Saturday night.

Los Angeles (24-11-2) holds an 11-point lead atop the Pacific and has allowed the second-fewest goals in the league. It outscored opponents 18-6 during a perfect four-game road trip that concluded with Thursday's 4-1 victory over Calgary.

Milan Lucic scored while Marian Gaborik and Tanner Pearson finished with a goal and an assist apiece for the Kings, who got 23 saves from Jonathan Quick.

''That's what we need for success. We need everyone to contribute,'' Quick said after winning each game on the trip. ''You've got to win in different ways. I think we were able to do that this trip.''

Quick appeared to be beaten by TJ Brodie in the second period, but Lucic slid across and saved a goal.

''Obviously he bails us out all the time, so it was nice to bail him out there," Lucic said. "If it's 3-1 going into the third period, it could be a completely different game. I was joking (it was) my first save of my career."

Lucic also bailed out the Kings in the first meeting with the Flyers on Nov. 17, scoring the tying goal with 56 seconds left in regulation before Anze Kopitar scored the lone shootout goal in a 3-2 victory.

That's one of 22 times Philadelphia (15-14-7) has scored fewer than three goals, and it has the second-fewest in the league. The Flyers have lost four in a row on the road after 4-2 defeats at Anaheim on Sunday and San Jose on Wednesday.

They gave up three power-play goals to the Sharks and now face a Kings team which was 5 for 12 with the man advantage during its trip. Philadelphia has allowed at least one power-play goal in four straight games after holding opponents to 5 for 43 in its previous 14.

"The last few games we've given up one or two (power-play goals). We've done an outstanding job before that," coach Dave Hakstol said. "We've been on a good run killing very, very well. The last couple games here, it's little things. It's little things that end up beating you on the PK."

Steve Mason wasn't at his best in net after finding out late he'd be getting the start for the ill Michal Neuvirth. He's given up at least three goals in three straight starts.

''The PK didn't do the job,'' Mason said. ''... The goalie is part of the PK and I have to come up with some big saves on the PK.''

Mason made 38 saves in the first matchup with the Kings after winning his previous two games against them, allowing one goal. Both of those victories were at Staples Center, where the Flyers have won all four meetings since 2009.

Quick, though, is 10-3-0 with a 1.98 GAA at home since Oct. 16. He has a 1.88 GAA in 10 career meetings with Philadelphia after making 36 saves in November's win.

Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist that day and scored Wednesday to snap a six-game goal drought.

Kings leading scorer Tyler Toffoli has a five-game point streak during which he has six goals and two assists.

Former Flyer Jeff Carter, who turned 31 on Friday, is likely to miss a fourth straight game with a lower-body injury.