Lucic Scores To Help Kings Beat Flames, 4-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Milan Lucic scored the winner as the Los Angeles Kings wrapped up a perfect four-game road trip Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Leading 1-0, the Kings opened up a three-goal cushion early in the second period on goals 78 seconds apart.
Tyler Toffoli curled out from behind the goal and put a shot on net that Flames goaltender Karri Ramo stopped, but Lucic swatted in the rebound for his 11th goal of the season at 1:46.
Marian Gaborik, Andy Andreoff and Tanner Pearson, into an empty net, also scored for Los Angeles (24-11-2). With an assist, Toffoli extended his point streak to five games.
The Kings opened up a 12-point lead over the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division with the win __their biggest division lead in franchise history.
Mark Giordano scored for Calgary (17-18-2).
Los Angeles made it 3-0 after Andreoff got open in the slot and one-timed a Michael Mersch set-up past Ramo.
The Flames finally got on the scoreboard 3:36 into the third period. Michael Ferland won a matchup along the boards for the puck and sent it back to the blue line where Giordano's shot deflected off Drew Doughty's skate and past Jonathan Quick.
The goal gave life to the home team as they poured on the pressure after that for an extended stretch, forcing Quick to be sharp. One of his best stops was a sharp glove save off Ferland just a few minutes later.
Quick, who turned aside 23 shots, picked up all four wins on the road trip for Los Angeles, allowing only six goals. He improved to 21-9-1 on the season. Quick is second in wins behind Washington's Braden Holtby (24).
Ramo made 20 saves and fell to 13-12-1.
Notes: Kings center Jeff Carter (lower body) took the game-day skate but did not play, missing his third straight game. ... One line-up change for the Kings saw Christian Ehrhoff return after being scratched for three games. He took the spot of Jamie McBain. ... Calgary's record on New Year's Eve falls to 17-9-3. ... The Flames are last in the NHL on both the power play and the penalty kill.
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