Curtis Zupke – NHL.com Correspondent
LOS ANGELES — Tanner Pearson scored two goals, Jhonas Enroth made 23 saves and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 at Staples Center on Saturday.
The Kings (37-20-4) won their fourth straight and have scored two goals in each game of the streak. They are four points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks in the race for first place in Pacific Division. The teams play Sunday at Honda Center.
The Sabres (25-31-7) went 1-2-0 on a three-game California trip.
Enroth, who played for the Sabres from 2009-10 to 2014-15, earned his seventh career shutout and first win since Jan. 24.
Each of Pearson’s goals came on rebounds.
He was in the slot to tap in the rebound of a shot by defenseman Jake Muzzin, who faked a shot and put it on net, at 13:58 of the third period. It was his 10th goal of the season.
Pearson put the Kings ahead to stay when he one-timed the rebound of Alec Martinez’s shot past Robin Lehner at 4:40 of the second. Pearson helped get the puck out from the corner to newly acquired defenseman Rob Scuderi, who set up Martinez.
Pearson, who had six goals in his first 51 games, has four in his past eight games.
Scuderi’s assist came in his first game back with the Kings after he was acquired Friday from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. The 37-year-old, who played for the Kings from 2009-13, received an ovation during a video tribute in the first period and motioned to his heart for the fans.
Martinez’s assist was his career-high 23rd point of the season.
(Reprinted with permission of the Buffalo Sabres)
