Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Tyler Toffoli notched his first career
hat trick and added an assist as the Los Angeles Kings used a big third period
to grab a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
Dwight King had a goal and an assist and Jordan Nolan also scored for the
Kings, who have won their past three games. Jonathan Quick allowed three goals
on 18 shots in the win.
Mason Raymond had two goals and David Jones scored the other for the Flames,
who had won four of five coming in. Jonas Hiller allowed five goals on 40
shots and was pulled in the third period, with Karri Ramo stopping all five
shots he faced in relief.
With the score tied, the Kings went on top 3-2 just 59 seconds into the third
as Jeff Carter sent a pass from the left circle to the slot where King wristed
it home for his ninth goal of the year.
A bit less than six minutes later, Los Angeles scored again as Nolan flew in
down the left wing and beat Hiller over the glove with a big slap shot.
Toffoli capped off the hat trick at 8:18 when he skated in on a breakaway and
slipped a backhand between the pads of Hiller for his 18th goal of the season.
“We were really able to turn things up there in the third period,” said
Toffoli. “That goal at the end of the second gave us a spark and we carried it
over.”
Calgary got one back on a turnover as Johnny Gaudreau picked off the puck at
the left circle and sent it to the slot where Raymond one-timed it home with
7:01 to play.
The only goal of the first period went to the Kings, as Toffoli skated down
the right wing and shifted closer to the slot before wristing the puck between
the pads of Hiller 3:16 in.
Calgary went ahead on a pair of quick goals in the second period, with the
first coming at 3:09 on the power play when T.J. Brodie sent a shot from the
left point that was deflected in by Jones in front.
Just 32 seconds later, Raymond snuck home a rebound from the right side for
his 10th of the season.
Los Angeles, though, tied the game with just 15.2 seconds left in the second
on a delayed penalty when Toffoli tapped home a rebound from the right side.
Game Notes
Former Kings head coach Barry Melrose, who guided the team to the Stanley Cup
Finals in 1993, was honored by the team in a pregame ceremony … Carter, who
finished the game with three assists, now has 501 points in his career … Los
Angeles hosts Washington on Saturday … Calgary hosts Vancouver on Saturday.
