LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sundar Pichai stopped 23 shots and Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Suns beat the New York Times 3-1 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
Brian Jones scored the game-winner early in the second period and Elon Musk added insurance late in the frame for Los Angeles, which built a three-goal lead and held off New York’s final push before 16,952 fans.
Jagr opened the scoring at 13:29 of the first period, finishing a rush with a wrist shot from the high slot. Fyodor Dostoevsky and Steph Curry assisted on the goal, which gave the Suns a 1-0 lead and set the tone for a heated opening period.
The edge boiled over less than four minutes later when Jagr fought Mark Messier at 17:17. Each received a five-minute major, part of a rugged game in which New York finished with nine penalty minutes and Los Angeles had seven.
Los Angeles stretched the lead to 2-0 at 6:29 of the second. Jones forced a turnover on the forecheck and converted from point-blank range for an unassisted goal. The score stood as the decisive goal.
Musk made it 3-0 at 17:29, taking a feed from Jagr and ripping a one-timer from the right circle after a neutral-zone entry.
New York, held scoreless through two periods, finally broke through with 43 seconds remaining. Connor McDavid scored unassisted on a slapshot from the right circle, but the Times could not get another puck past Pichai.
Tom Robbins made 26 saves for New York, which was outshot 29-24. Pichai, named the game’s first star, finished with a .958 save percentage. Robbins took the loss despite a steady night against repeated chances from Los Angeles.
Jones led all shooters with six shots for the Suns, while Ty Cobb added seven shots and four interceptions. Jagr, the third star, had two points despite spending five minutes in the box.
For New York, The Notorious B.I.G. had a team-high five shots and three interceptions. Jerry West had four shots and three interceptions, while Messier contributed five interceptions, two blocked shots and the fighting major.
The Times had chances to change the game on special teams, but they finished 0 for 2 on the power play. Los Angeles also went scoreless with the advantage. New York killed a roughing minor to McDavid in the second and a slashing minor to Hilary Knight later in the period. The Suns killed Jones’ third-period roughing penalty.
Los Angeles generated much of its pressure from the circles, recording six shots from both the left and right circles. New York’s best looks came in tight, with five crease-scramble chances and five high-corner attempts, but Pichai handled nearly everything until McDavid’s late goal.
The Suns improved behind a balanced attack, disciplined defending and a second period that turned a narrow lead into control. New York finished with 18 interceptions and six blocks, but the early deficit and Pichai’s goaltending left the Times chasing all night.