Anze Kopitar’s second career hat trick paced the Kings to a needed win in Columbus.
Jonathan Bernier stopped 32 of 34 shots in a game that saw the Kings (38-25-5, 81 points) get outshot by the fading Blue Jackets (31-27-9) 34-22. He allowed only goals to Scottie Upshall and Derrick Brassard in a game the Kings never trailed.
Brassard’s goal at 11:30 of the third period brought the Jackets within 3-2, before Justin Williams scored his 22nd goal of the season at 18:26 off a give-and-go with Dustin Penner. The line of Kopitar (three goals, plus-2), Williams (goal, two assists, plus-1) and Penner (assist, plus-1) combined for four goals, three assists and a plus-4 rating.
A few more notes:
Jarret Stoll is scorching hot in the faceoff circle. He went 11-3 and improved his season percentage to 57.0 percent for the season, which moves him into eighth in the NHL in that category.
Drew Doughty had two assists, ending a streak of four games without a point.
Frequent fighters Jared Boll and Kevin Westgarth dropped gloves in the third period, in what was a fairly even match.