LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings received some offensive production from their defense to continue a march to a potential Pacific Division title.

For the first time since March 17, 2007, three different Los Angeles defensemen scored goals as the Kings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Defenseman Jake Muzzin tied a career high with a goal and two assists, and left winger Milan Lucic added two goals as Los Angeles (16-8-1) continued to lead the Pacific Division, moving five points ahead of the San Jose Sharks with a four-goal burst in the second period.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots.

Pittsburgh (14-9-2) lost for the third time in its last four games but still holds the one of the wild-card playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 31 Los Angeles shots in suffering his ninth loss of the season (12-8-1).

Lucic's empty-net goal sealed the victory at 18:45 for the third period on an assist from defenseman Drew Doughty.

"When we play well in the defensive zone, it transfers into offensive zone play," Lucic said. "Drew Doughty could easily be the Norris Trophy winner right now."

Kings coach Darryl Sutter agreed with Lucic while defending his defense's play amid rumors that Los Angeles general manager Dean Lombardi is looking to add a defenseman by the February trade deadline.

"I think we don't get much respect in those terms," Sutter said. "Everybody just talks about Drew. We were top 10 in production from our defense last season and that's what we expect."

The Kings had an opportunity to increase their lead at 11:33 of the third period, but Fleury stopped a penalty shot by right winger Marian Gaborik.

The Penguins closed to 4-3 on center Sidney Crosby's sixth goal of the season at 2:39 of the third period. Crosby stationed himself to the left of Quick for a tip-in of defenseman Brian Doumlin's pass from the point.

"It's really tough and we had a chance with five minutes to tie the game," Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. "I like the way we came back, but I didn't like the last half of the first period and the second period at all."

Crosby was surprised at the eight-goal output by both teams. He expected a different game given the Kings' ability to defend.

"That's the way things work," Crosby said. "Yesterday, we were talking about this being a 2-1 game. You never know what's going to happen."

Pittsburgh had gotten within 4-2 at 18:01 of the second period when defenseman Olli Maatta scored his third goal of the season on a backhand shot from the slot.

Muzzin completed the Kings' four-goal, second-period outburst at 12:18 on a wrist shot off a feed from right winger Dustin Brown.

The Penguins broke through to shave the deficit to 3-1 on left winger Chris Kunitz's fourth goal of the season at 11:20 of the second period on assists from center Sidney Crosby and defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

Kunitz's slap shot from the high slot beat a screened Quick to break his five-game streak without a goal.

Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead when Lucic converted a two-on-one rush at 10:57 for his eighth goal of the season. Lucic took advantage of the Penguins' poor defensive zone play throughout the period to beat Fleury between the pads with a wrist shot.

The Kings doubled their lead on defenseman Christian Ehrhoff's first goal of the season at 9:53 of the second period. With the Pittsburgh defense backing off during a rush, his wrist shot from the slot beat Fleury.

Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead on Doughty's fourth goal of the season on the power play at 2:26 of the second period. Muzzin fed Doughty after a faceoff win by center Jeff Carter, and Doughty's one-timer beat Fleury cleanly.

NOTES: Pittsburgh activated D Olli Maatta from injured reserve and he was in the lineup for D Kris Letang, who missed the game because of an undisclosed injury. Maatta missed the last six games because of an upper body injury. ... The Penguins scratched D Adam Clendening, RW Daniel Sprong and Letang. ... Pittsburgh will continue its lone West Coast trip in Anaheim tomorrow with a 8 p.m. ET start and will close out the road swing in Denver against the Avalanche on Tuesday night. After the Avalanche game, they will play only four more games outside the Eastern Time Zone this season. ... Los Angeles did not dress C Trevor Lewis and D Derek Forbort. Lewis was "dinged up" on Thursday, according to coach Darryl Sutter, giving Weal an opportunity on the fourth line after being a healthy scratch in his last four games. ... The Kings will see the Penguins again on Friday to conclude their season series. After Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, nine of their next 10 games will be played away from Staples Center.