Thursday night the Los Angeles Kings pummeled the Vancouver Canucks, shutting them out 4-0 on their own ice.
It was a statement win in a powerhouse performance.
The Kings came out flying from the drop of the puck, and they worked hard all game.
16:41 into the first period Tyler Toffoli scored his 20th goal of the season on a cross-ice tic, tack, toe, play from Justin Williams and Jake Muzzin. It was a power-play goal that came with Vancouver’s Derek Dorsett in the box for slashing Brayden McNabb.
Toffoli is having a tremendous season. In his young career, Toffoli’s having a career season with highs in goals, assists, points, penalties in minutes, power-play goals, and short-handed goals. Despite such a strong year he’s been streaky. Tonight’s goal was Toffoli’s first in 11 games, dating back to February 18th.
Los Angeles Kings
Toffoli is the third King to reach the 20-goal mark this season.
In the second period Justin Williams picked up his 17th goal of the season on a great play from Brayden McNabb. McNabb picked up a loose puck, looked off a few covered teammates, stepped up and into open ice and hit Williams with a pass back-door as Williams came around the net.
It was Williams first goal in 9 games, and is his 6th point in four games.
Brayden McNabb is coming into his own. To paraphrase Jim Fox from the game’s broadcast, “With a little confidence this kid can be great. It took Jake Muzzin some time to get his confidence, and now he’s a very solid player for the Kings.”
McNabb now has 4 assists in his last 4 games.
25-seconds into the third period Anze Kopitar put the Kings up by three. Intercepting a pass from Dan Hamhuis in the Vancouver zone, Kopitar took two strides and fired a snap-shot from the face-off dot over the shoulder of Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack. The save attempt was lack-ing.
With 4:24 left in regulation Vancouver pulled their goaltender in a desperate attempt to catch up. Instead Marian Gaborik scored his 21st of the season on the empty net. Kopitar picked up an assist for a two point night. Trevor Lewis picked up an assist as well.
Dustin Brown had a great game, personifying hard work along the boards. Brown didn’t contribute any points on the night but was a big part of the Kings win. Brown took a couple hard hits early in the game. It looked like the Kings were targeting him specifically. Either there was an old vendetta or Brown was getting under their skin.
Mar 12, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford (13) and Vancouver Canucks forward Derek Dorsett (51) fight during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Clifford stuck up for the team in the second period, dropping the mitts with Derek Dorsett. The two-heavy hitters squared off for a few punches. Clifford got in a number of good throws, knocking Dorsett’s helmet off. The crowd, and players of both teams appreciated the effort as two of the West’s top enforcers got together.
Jonathan Quick was phenomenal tonight. Quick posted his 5th shutout of the season stopping 19 shots. It’s Quick’s 36th career shutout, and marks the 4th time in his 7-year career that Quick has had 5 or more shutouts in a season.
Quick shined in the first period when the Canucks peppered him with chances. In consecutive plays Quick robbed Zack Kassian and Bo Horvat.
Quick’s record improves to 29-17-11 in 57 starts, with a 2.32 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
The Kings are now 4-1-1 in March.
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When the Kings had 20 games remaining on the schedule, RinkRoyalty estimated they would need to win 13 to get to 96 points in the standings, and get into the playoffs. Since that point L.A. has gone 4-0-1. Four down, nine to go.
The Kings are now 4th in the Pacific Division and 8th in the Western Conference. With 79 points the Kings are tied for 3rd in the Pacific with the Calgary Flames.
L.A.’s next game is Saturday night against the Nashville Predators at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Next: Is the Kings Defense in Stanley Cup Mode Yet?
Mar 12, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown (23) celebrates the win with goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Los Angeles Kings won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports