Jeff Carter scores in Philadelphia return as Kings beat Flyers, 3-2

PHILADELPHIA — Flyers fans booed every time Kings forward Jeff Carter touched the puck Monday, but it was music to his ears.

Carter, traded by Philadephia to Columbus and later dealt by the Blue Jackets to the Kings, scored the Kings’ first goal in his first game back at the Wells Fargo Center. Justin Williams, another ex-Flyer, scored the second goal after the Kings survived a series of shorthanded situations. After the Flyers pulled even, Dwight King — who has no connection to the Flyers — scored the winner off a two-on-one at 10 minutes 36 seconds of the third period for a 3-2 decision in the opener of a short but challenging Eastern trip.

In winning their third straight game, the Kings (41-25-6) ended the Flyers’ five-game winning streak.

After a scoreless first period, Carter broke through at 1:49 of the second period with a one-timer from the left circle that beat Philadelphia goalie Ray Emery to the stick side. The goal was Carter’s 25th this season.

The Flyers came close to pulling even about two minutes later, when a shot by Vincent Lecavalier hit the right post, the crossbar behind Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and the left post but somehow didn’t cross the goal line. That was verified on video review.

Strong work by the Kings’ penalty killers got them through a stretch during which they had to fend off a four-on-three Flyers power play, a five-on-three that lasted 30 seconds, and a five-on-four. Shortly after they got back to full strength, Williams converted the rebound of a shot by Robyn Regehr to pad the Kings’ lead to 2-0, one of 20 shots the Kings had in the second period.

The Flyers cut their deficit in half merely 29 seconds into the third period. Forward Matt Read’s shot appeared to deflect off Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin and change direction, surprising Quick and sneaking inside the post.

Philadelphia pulled even at 2-2 at 8:18, when Jakub Voracek tipped home a fluttering shot by Scott Hartnell. But the Kings regained the lead following a turnover by the Flyers, as Slava Voynov, skating up the right side, made a fine pass to his left to King, whose shot from the inside edge of the left circle found the net. That ended a 10-game goal drought for King.

The Kings were scheduled to take the train to Washington, D.C., after Monday’s game in advance of Tuesday’s game against the Capitals at the Verizon Center.