FILE - In this March 22, 2018, filer photo, Los Angeles Kings coach John Stevens gestures to his team during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in an NHL hockey game in Denver. Stevens has been fired by the struggling Kings just 13 games into his second season in charge. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - In this March 22, 2018, filer photo, Los Angeles Kings coach John Stevens gestures to his team during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in an NHL hockey game in Denver. Stevens has been fired by the struggling Kings just 13 games into his second season in charge. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) Credit: ap — David Zalubowski

Los Angeles — The struggling Los Angeles Kings fired head coach John Stevens on Sunday just 13 games into his second season in charge.

Willie Desjardins will be the Kings’ interim head coach for the rest of the regular season, general manager Rob Blake said.

Los Angeles also fired assistant coach Don Nachbaur and hired former Kings forward Marco Sturm to replace him on Desjardins’ staff.

Los Angeles is last in the overall NHL standings after a 4-8-1 start and last in the league with 2.15 goals per game. The Kings have been outscored, 45-28, but they had won two of their past three games following a six-game losing streak.

“I’m looking to get the compete and the passion back,” Blake said after announcing his second coaching change in 19 months. “We need our players emotionally involved. It’s difficult to win when you’re not. We expect Willie to bring that passion and that excitement to this team.”

The Kings beat Columbus, 4-1, on Saturday in Stevens’ final game in charge. Desjardins, the former Vancouver head coach, will lead practice today and will debut behind the bench when the Kings host rival Anaheim on Tuesday night.

The Kings still have a wealth of top-end NHL talent including Hart Trophy finalist Anze Kopitar, Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Drew Doughty and high-scoring forward Jeff Carter alongside newcomer Ilya Kovalchuk. But with goalie Jonathan Quick missing all but four games because of injuries, Los Angeles has stumbled through the past 3½ weeks with its top-heavy roster of well-paid veterans, inconsistent depth players and a patchy defense.

Stevens took over in 2017 after seven years as an assistant in Los Angeles under Terry Murray and Darryl Sutter.

Sunday’s Games

Rangers 3, Sabres 1

New York — Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 shots and Jimmy Vesey scored twice to lead New York over Buffalo.

Neal Pionk also scored in the Rangers’ third straight win. New York rookie Brett Howden picked up his sixth assist of the season before leaving with an injury in the second period.

Lundqvist was stellar while picking up his fourth win of the season and 435th of his career, moving just two behind Jacaues Plante for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list.

Connor Sheary scored for Buffalo and Carter Hutton made 19 saves.

Lightning 4, Senators 3 (ot)

Ottawa — Yanni Gourde scored 14 seconds into overtime to lift Tampa Bay over Ottawa.

Brayden Point tied the score with 27 seconds left in regulation on a two-man advantage off a pass from Tyler Johnson to send the game to the extra period. Point also had an assist on Gourde’s winner.

Cedric Paquette and Mathieu Joseph also scored for the Lightning, and Louis Domingue stopped 22 shots. Ryan McDonagh had three assists.

Bobby Ryan, Maxime Lajoie and Cody Ceci had the goals for the Senators. Craig Anderson finished with 41 saves a day after giving up three goals on 10 shots before being pulled in a 9-2 loss to Buffalo.

Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Lightning got on the board early in the second as Paquette scored 38 seconds in, jumping on a rebound in the crease.

Joseph tied the score with the first goal of his career at 3:04 of the third. Anthony Cirelli spotted Joseph and he made no mistake, beating Anderson far side.

Anderson kept the Senators in the game as the Lightning outshot Ottawa 10-1 through the first 10 minutes of the final frame.

Ottawa regained the lead on a delayed penalty call as Chris Tierney found Ceci all alone in front with 4:44 left in regulation.

The Senators took a 2-0 lead on power-play goals by Ryan and Lajoie 10 minutes apart in the first period.

NOTES: Lajoie’s fifth goal of the season tied him with Ryan Dzingel for the team lead. … D Mark Borowiecki made his to the Senators’ lineup after serving a three-game suspension for a hit to the head on Vegas Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin. … Ottawa and Tampa Bay, who both entered the league in 1992, each played its 2,000th game.

UP NEXT

Lightning: Host Edmonton on Tuesday night to open a three-game homestand.

Senators: Host New Jersey on Tuesday night.

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