In Raleigh,the Los Angeles Kings found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-1 decision on Saturday.
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a 4-0 lead and coasted to the win.
Frederik Andersen made 32 saves in the Carolina win.
The Canes were absent six skaters because NHL COVID19 prptocol.
“Being 100 percent honest, coming into these two games, if you would have said we would have come out with two victories this way, I would have said, ‘That’s big time,'” Canes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I just think guys were working really hard. Kudos to all the guys who came in because they all contributed and did a great job.”
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jesper Fast hit for a goal and two points each in the win.
Blake Lizotte scored the LA goal.
“What didn’t [Carolina] do well?” Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. “They were quicker, harder, faster, more determined.”
The Kings dropped 13-11-5.
“You try to put it out of your mind and battle, but it’s definitely an uphill battle when you’re down 2-0,” Lizotte said. “It kind of seems like the bounces don’t go your way when you’re down that quick. It’s a tough way to start the game.”
Carolina’s Brett Pesce and Teuvo Teravainen scored in the middle frame to help build the 4-0 lead.
Carolina improved to 21-7-1.
The Canes’ Jack Drury scored in the 15th minutes of the third period for the 5-1 final.
“All the guys who have come up from Chicago, I think we’ve molded in nicely and just tried to help the team win,” Drury said. “I feel like we were ready to compete today, and I think everyone bought in.”
Jonathan Quick made 28 saves in the LA loss.
“If you’re in the NHL, you belong here,” McLellan said. “They’re veteran players, they’re a little bit older, they’re leading the American league in scoring. The frustrating part isn’t that those ‘tweeners’ were here and playing, the frustrating part was what we didn’t do.”
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