Kings bounce back from tough loss to crush Flames 6-3
LOS ANGELES -- It's safe to say the Los Angeles Kings didn't take too well to the sloppy loss they absorbed against the Dallas Stars Thursday.
Given a day to stew about it, they reacted quickly, accordingly and convincingly in a 6-2 win over the visiting Calgary Flames at sold-out Staples Center Saturday.
After the momentary lapse against the Stars, the Kings immediately got back on the right track having now won eight of their last 10 games, 10 of their last 13 and seven of their last eight at home.
And they did it emphatically, chasing Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff midway through the third period after a six-goal barrage on a 22-shot barrage.
Meanwhile, the Flames have been outscored 10-2 the last two nights in losses to the Anaheim Ducks and Kings.
Jeff Carter, who has been on fire this year, got it started for the Kings with his 17th goal of the year, this one on a power-play on assists from Dustin Brown and Slava Voynov 4:48 into the first period to make it 1-0.
But the Flames answered right back on a two-man advantage as Mike Cammalleri beat Jonathan Quick over his left shoulder to make it 1-1.
Another five-on-three followed for the Flames, but the Kings extinguished it and that's when the fun started for the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Midway through the first period, Kings defensemen Jake Muzzin fired a 49-foot slap shot over the left shoulder of Kiprusoff on assists by Colin Fraser and Justin Williams to make it 2-1.
Eight minutes later, Trevor Lewis snapped a 19-footer past Kiprusoff to make it 3-1 Kings, and the rout seemed imminent.
The Flames scored a late goal in the first on a tip-in by Alex Tanguay to close to within 3-2 and momentarily make it a close game.
But the Kings pushed the lead back up to two when Justin Williams scored on a tip-in to make it 4-2.
The lead grew to 5-2 early in the third when Williams fed Anze Kopitar with a beautiful cross-ice pass and Kopitar fired a shot past Kiprusoff for his eighth goal of the year.
When Colin Fraser beat Kiprusoff four minutes later, the Kings were in complete control and Kiprusoff was headed to the bench in favor of Joey MacDonald.
NOTES: Despite a slow start and giving up four goals the last time out, Jonathan Quick was back in net for the Kings against the Flames rather than Jonathan Bernier, who has been alternating with Quick and is having a better year statistically with a 5-1 record and a 1.92 GAA compared with Quick's 7-7 record and 2.59 GAA. Nevertheless, it was Quick getting a chance to redeem himself after Thursday's poor effort against the Dallas Stars. ... The Kings honored former goalie Kelly Hrudey, who helped lead them to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. ... It has taken Flames star Jarome Iginla a little while to get going this year, but it's safe to say he has found his stride with six goals in his last six games coming into Saturday. ... In an odd bit of scheduling, the Kings and Flames will play again Monday at Staples Center.
