TORONTO

Matt Martin thinks his offensive statistics might be helped by his new linemate.

Mitch Marner played on Toronto’s fourth line for the third straight game and set up goals by Martin and Tyler Bozak, and the Maple Leafs handed the Los Angeles Kings their first regulation loss of the season with a 3-2 victory on Monday night.

Marner had 19 goals and 42 assists in 77 games last season as a rookie. But he struggled to produce early this season with his regular linemates Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, leading to him being replaced on Toronto’s second line by Connor Brown.

He entered Monday with just one goal in eight games, but coach Mike Babcock felt he was Toronto’s best player against the Kings.

Patrick Marleau also scored for the Maple Leafs (7-2), and Frederik Andersen made 36 saves.

Toronto has won at least seven of its first nine games for the first time since the 1993-94 season and just the seventh time overall in franchise history.

Adrian Kempe and Trevor Lewis scored for Los Angeles (6-1-1), which had won four in a row. Jonathan Quick stopped 31 shots.

Marner helped the Maple Leafs jump in front 5: 46 into the first. He entered the zone and curled behind the net before teeing up Roman Polak for a one-timer from the blue line that Martin deflected past Quick from the top of the crease.

The Kings held a 29-24 shot advantage through 40 minutes.

Sharks 4, Rangers 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Jones and San Jose’s penalty-killing came through to help the Sharks win in a game coach Peter DeBoer said wasn’t one of their best.

Jones stopped 33 shots , and Logan Couture had a goal and an assist to lead the Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the struggling New York Rangers on Monday night. San Jose was whistled for six penalties — all in the first two periods — and didn’t give up a goal on any of the chances.

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