Kings 3, Hurricanes 0
LOS ANGELES -- Center Tyler Toffoli scored a pair of goals, sparking the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes before an announced crowd of 18,230 at Staples Center on Friday night.
Toffoli extended his streak of goals to a career high four games as the Kings (4-3-0) defeated the Hurricanes for the fifth straight time at Staples. Center Anze Kopitar also scored for the Kings, who captured their fourth consecutive win. Left winger Milan Lucic had two assists for Los Angeles.
Goaltender Johnathan Quick stopped all 40 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season.
Carolina goalie Cam Ward saved 25 of 28 attempts as the Hurricanes (2-5-0), who have managed just two goals in the last three games, lost for the second time in three outings.
Los Angeles prevailed despite being held to single digits on shots on goal. Toffoli's tally midway through the first period was all they needed though. Carolina outshot the Kings 15-9 in the opening period and 13-9 after two for a 28-18 advantage but had nothing to show for it.
After Carolina defenseman Michael Jordan skated off after an interference penalty, Toffoli broke up a scoreless contest. He fielded a pass from defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and fired a winner from the right circle over the shoulder of Ward for a power-play goal and a 1-0 Los Angeles' lead at 11:06 of the first period.
Toffoli produced half of the Kings' offense with six of the team's 12 goals through seven games. Toffoli capped the scoring with a goal with 2:58 remaining in the game.
The Kings were coming off a 4-1 win over the Sharks in San Jose on Thursday night, scoring a career high in goals this season.
Kopitar scored at 8:04 of the third period for a 2-0 advantage. It was Kopitar's second goal of the season.
NOTES: Hurricanes D Brett Pesce, who was recalled from the team's AHL affiliate in Charlotte on Thursday, was scratched from Friday's contest. Pesce, 20, had a goal and two assists (three points) in three games with Charlotte this season. C Riley Nash and C Joakim Nordstrom also were scratched by Carolina. ... The Kings scratches were D Derek Forbort and C Jordan Weal. ... Friday's game featured the NHL's only active goaltenders to win the Conn Smythe trophy in G Jonathan Quick of the Kings and G Cam Ward of the Hurricanes. ... The two clubs split their two meetings last season with each winning on their home ice. ... The Hurricanes head to San Jose to play the Sharks on Saturday, while the Kings visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.