Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Jarret Stoll's goal early in the second
period proved to be the game-winner, as the Los Angeles Kings edged the
Calgary Flames, 2-1, at Staples Center.
Scott Parse also scored for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last five
games overall. Jonathan Quick turned aside 26 saves in the victory.
"Quick has really played unbelievable for us all year and he continues to
stand on his head," said Kings forward Wayne Simmonds. "I think we were just
confident in ourselves tonight. We just had to look next to us and battle
harder than the next guy. They are a very physical team and I think our team
is the same way. We just have to play our game and not fall into theirs. We
got the two points and that's all that matters right now."
Curtis Glencross scored the only goal for the Flames, who concluded their six-
game road trip with a 4-2 mark and will host Atlanta on Wednesday. Calgary
goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff allowed two goals on 16 shots in the loss.
The Kings opened a 1-0 lead at the 8:54 mark of the first period on Parse's
fourth goal. Parse gained control after a pass from Michal Handzus and
streaked down the left side of the slot. Once he reached the circle, Parse
maneuvered toward the middle, cut around Flames blueliner Aaron Johnson and
punched the puck into the back of the cage from atop the crease.
In the latter stages of the first stanza, the visitors knotted the score.
Craig Conroy gained control of the loose puck behind the net and, from along
the rear boards, sent a pass directly onto the stick of Glencross, whose
backhander from the inner rim of the left circle beat Quick with 4:21 to go.
The only goal of the second period put the Kings ahead 2-1. Skating on the
power play due to a tripping minor on Conroy, the Kings worked the puck around
the perimeter of their offensive zone before Dustin Brown held control behind
the net. Brown passed to Justin Williams along the boards near the base of the
half-wall before Williams quickly centered the puck for a redirection goal by
Stoll from the top of the crease at the 4:34 mark.
"We didn't give up too much," said Kiprusoff. "They were able to score on the
[power play] they had. We threw everything at the net but their goalie was
pretty solid tonight. Pretty much every game is tight. We just have to keep
playing the way [we] play. We did a lot of good things [tonight]."
Over five minutes into the final stanza, Calgary nearly found the equalizer.
Dion Phaneuf's wrister from near the centerpoint was saved by Quick, but Rene
Bourque was at the right post and took four whacks at the rebound. Quick,
though, stacked the pads and denied Bourque's attempts. Soon after, a glove
save by Quick barely kept a bouncing shot out of the net before Olli Jokinen
hit the post with a snap shot moments later.
Quick finished with 13 total saves in the third period and held on the rest of
the way for the win.