Kings Blanked By Blues To Begin Grammy Road Trip

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaroslav Halak stopped 21 shots and Jamie Langenbrunner scored in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.

Halak recorded his fifth shutout of the season and 21st of his career. He improved to 15-8-5 and has started six of the last seven games. Halak has four shutouts in his last seven starts. St. Louis has a league-best 10 shutouts.

St. Louis improved to a league-best 22-3-4 at home and has not lost a regulation game at home since dropping a 5-2 decision to Chicago on Dec. 3.

The Blues moved into a tie with Vancouver for second in the Western Conference with 67 points.

Jonathan Quick made 32 saves for the Kings. He has allowed two goals or less in 12 of his last 14 starts.

The Kings, who fell to 10-6-6 on the road, had a two-game winning streak snapped.

St. Louis, which returned from a nine-day break, was the last team to play following the All-Star break.

Langenbrunner broke a 10-game scoreless string when he converted a pass from Matt D'Agostini at 8:38. It was the 57th game-winning goal of his career.

Halak, who is 12-1-3 in his last 16 starts, made a pair of key pad saves on Dustin Brown and Colin Fraser in the second period. He also stopped Justin Williams from close range with just over five minutes left in regulation.

NOTES: The Kings have a scored a league-low 22 goals in the first period. ... Los Angeles began a six-game 11-day road trip on Friday. The Kings' home, Staples Center, is preparing to host the Grammy Awards. ... St. Louis wingers Alex Steen and Andy McDonald remain out with concussions. Steen has missed the last 14 games. ... McDonald has not played since Oct. 13. Both will remain home when the team begins a three-game road trip Saturday in Nashville. "It's really in the player's hands," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "They'll let us know when they are ready." The Blues have given up a Western Conference-low 102 goals this season.