Blackhawks at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings aim to extend their winning streak to four games overall and complete a regular-season sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday when the clubs meet at the Staples Center. Jonathan Quick turned aside 51 of 53 shots to help the Kings collect a pair of 3-1 wins over the Blackhawks, and the goaltender has permitted two goals or fewer in six of his last seven appearances.
Jeff Carter has returned from a 55-game absence due to a lacerated ankle tendon with a flourish, extending his goal-scoring streak to three contests as Los Angeles overcame an early two-goal deficit to post a 5-2 victory over Columbus on Thursday. Although the winning streak has fueled the Kings to within two points of second-place San Jose in the Pacific Division, coach John Stevens isn't looking past a struggling Blackhawks team that is on the fast track to miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. "I think every team we play is dangerous, for different reasons," Stevens said. "I think they still have a lot of great players there and they have a lot of pride, and I think they're really well-coached. We have to be ready." The Blackhawks didn't appear ready in Thursday's 7-2 shellacking by the Sharks, extending their road losing skid to seven straight heading into the third contest of their four-game trek on Saturday.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Chicago, FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (27-29-8): Jonathan Toews has seen the bottom fall out as Chicago has made itself at home in the cellar of the Central, but the captain steadfastly has refused to give in. "When things aren't going your way, you have to keep working," said Toews, who is mired in a five-game point drought. "You got to find ways to turn things your way. And when things go well you got to stay with that momentum." Fellow forward Patrick Kane has six points (two goals, four assists) in his last six games, although he has been held off the scoresheet in both encounters this season versus Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE KINGS (36-24-5): Rookie Alex Iafallo recorded his first career two-goal performance on Thursday after mustering just two assists in his previous 10 games. "He's not a big guy, but he's got good intuition and put himself in some tough areas there and got rewarded for it," Stevens said of the 24-year-old. Tyler Toffoli is starting to heat up with two goals and two assists on his four-game point streak after scoring two goals and setting up two others in his previous 19 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles D Dion Phaneuf is riding a season high-tying three-game assist streak and has six points (three goals, three assists) in nine contests since being acquired in a trade from Ottawa on Feb. 13.
2. Chicago's 29th-ranked power play is 0-for-9 in its last five games after scoring one goal with the man advantage in seven of its previous eight.
3. The Kings have been sluggish out of the gate, getting outscored 13-5 in the first period over their last 12 games.