In Los Angeles Thursday, Jonathan Quick was in old form in making 29 saves in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout.
Jonathan Quick was back in form in win over Toronto – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Quick also stopped all three shooters in the skills competition.
Anze Kopitar had the only goal in the shootout to get the win for the Kings.
“If I’m completely honest with you, I missed my shot but it went in,” Kopitar said of the shootout goal. “They all count, and I’ll take it.”
Kopitar also scored in regulation for LA on the power play.
“We knew the power play was going to be big, obviously,” Kopitar said. “You’re coming on well-rested out of the intermission and the ice was good, so at the very least we just wanted to create some momentum. To get the early one like that certainly helps, and I thought we were going pretty good after that.”
The game featured the debut for Jarome Iginla who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the deadline.
“You can feel that being in that game,” Iginla said. “You can tell that they are battling just like we are, and each point is so important, and the desperation. It’s fun to be a part of that. Every shift is so important, and the battles both ways, and the intensity. It’s been a while in those type [of games], and it’s fun to be a part of them again.”
Tanner Pearson also struck for a goal for the Kings as they moved into the second wild card spot with the win.
“I think our team got some composure. It wasn’t like we were really behind; we hit two posts in the second [period]. So it was just ‘stay with it.’ Sometimes you’re going to win and sometimes you’re not,” LA head coach Darryl Sutter
Tyler Bozak and Nikita Zaitsev had the Leafs goals as Toronto fell to 28-21-14.
“Obviously the team played good. Freddy played good,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s important. We have to find ways to get points. We only got one. … We’ve got to keep grinding.”
WATCH: Maple Leafs vs. Kings highlights
Frederik Andersen made 33 saves in taking the loss, the fourth straight for the Leafs.
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