National Hockey League
Los Angeles 3, Calgary 0
When: 10:30 PM ET, Monday, March 26, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Referees: Chris Lee, Kendrick Nicholson
Linesmen: Brian Murphy, Tim Nowak
Attendance: 18230
Dion Phaneuf, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter scored power-play goals Monday night, and Jonathan Quick stopped 23 shots for his fifth shutout of the season as the Los Angeles Kings picked up two vital points in a tight Western Conference playoff race with a 3-0 win over the visiting Calgary Flames.

The Kings moved into a tie with Anaheim for third place in the Pacific Division with 91 points. The result also moves Los Angeles a point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche, who lost Monday in Vegas, and two points in front of the idle St. Louis Blues in the wild-card chase.

After a scoreless first period at Staples Center that featured only 15 combined shots on net, Los Angeles got its attack going when Calgary started taking a spate of minors. Five seconds after Sam Bennett went off for high-sticking Kopitar, the Kings hit the lead.

Off a clean faceoff win by Adrian Kempe, Phaneuf collected the puck near the left boards and tried a slapper. With Tyler Toffoli providing a jump screen, the shot eluded Flames goalie Mike Smith at 4:04 of the second period for Phaneuf's seventh goal.

Another Bennett minor, this time for tripping Christian Folin, gave Kopitar a chance to display his sniping ability. Given time and space after Phaneuf set him up atop the left circle, Kopitar wired a wrister just under Smith's glove at 11:55 of the second for his 34th marker.

Carter removed any doubt from the outcome with his 10th goal of an injury-shortened season at 8:24 of the third period. Kopitar set him up at the goalmouth, and after Smith stopped one point-blank chance, Carter rapped a rebound through the pads.

It was the sixth straight loss for Calgary, which has fallen out of playoff contention with a slump at the worst possible time. The Flames have been outscored 28-7 in this stretch, absorbing three shutouts.

Smith stopped 26 shots in the losing cause.

Phaneuf and Kopitar each finished the night with a goal and an assist. Dustin Brown added secondary helpers on the final two goals.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   Los Angeles
N/A Points Anze Kopitar 2
N/A Goals Anze Kopitar 1
N/A Assists Dustin Brown 2
N/A Power Play Goals Anze Kopitar 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mike Smith .897 Save Percentage Jonathan Quick 1.000
Mike Smith 26 Saves Jonathan Quick 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 23 0 0-3 2-5 10 25
Los Angeles 29 3 3-5 3-3 6 25
Upcoming Games
  • Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Arizona. The Kings have a W/L % of .548 after a win and .543 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Flames have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .415 after a loss.