(SportsNetwork.com) – The Los Angeles Kings will try to wrap a four-game
homestand with a third straight victory on Thursday night as they take on the
Carolina Hurricanes.
The Kings scored four times in the second period on Tuesday to top the Florida
Panthers 5-2. Jeff Carter had a goal and an assist, while defenseman Matt
Greene and Robyn Regehr added their first goals of the season.
Their effort helped Los Angeles win consecutive games for the first time since
taking six in a row from Oct. 12-26.
“It’s good to see Robyn and Greene score. They don’t get much credit and they
can give you the blue collar (effort) every night,” Kings head coach Darryl
Sutter said. “They are our two most consistent defensemen for sure. It’s
always good to see them score.”
Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown also scored for the Kings, with Brown netting
the 199th tally of his career. Forward Anze Kopitar and defenseman Brayden
McNabb both finished with two assists, while Jonathan Quick made 30 saves.
Like the Kings, the Hurricanes used a four-goal second period to get past the
Dallas Stars 6-4 on Tuesday. Carolina’s big frame came after Dallas took an
early 2-0 advantage in the first frame.
Jeff Skinner, Patrick Dwyer, Victor Rask and Jiri Tlusty all lit the lamp in
the middle frame, while Eric Staal scored twice in the third. Staal also
picked up an assist in the second period.
Cam Ward allowed four goals on 27 shots in the win, which snapped a three-
game slide in which the ‘Canes had been outscored 7-2.
“I liked how we stuck with it,” Staal said. “It was a good effort by the guys
in the second and third.”
The Hurricanes beat the Kings for only the second time in the past seven
meetings with a 3-2 victory at home on Nov. 2. Elias Lindholm had the deciding
tally and Ward made 30 saves to improve to 3-0-2 in his career versus the
Kings with a 1.75 goals against average and .936 save percentage.
Quick made 29 saves and is 2-1-0 with a 1.63 GAA and .941 save percentage
lifetime when facing the Hurricanes.
Los Angeles has won three straight and six of its last seven at home versus
Carolina.
