Kings QUICK to blank Hawks 2-0

Jonathan Quick was perfect in the nets, with a bit of help from his Los Angeles Kings teammates. Quick made 38 saves to earn his NHL-leading fifth shutout, and Trent Hunter and Jarret Stoll scored to lead the Kings past the Blackhawks 2-0 on Wednesday.Quick was solid in earning his 19th NHL shutout, but he wasn’t heavily tested until the third period. The Blackhawks managed few prime scoring chances in the first two frames. When the Blackhawks did get their attack going — outshooting the Kings 18-10 in the third period — Quick was in position to turn them away. The Kings improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven and 3-0-1 under coach Darryl Sutter, who took over behind the Los Angeles bench last week. Sutter spent his eight-year NHL playing career with the Blackhawks, and began his NHL coaching career with Chicago in 1992. Los Angeles has struggled offensively this season, and for the 15th time in 16 games, scored two goals or fewer in regulation. On Wednesday, however, the Kings’ fourth line of Hunter, Kyle Clifford and Colin Fraser generated an offensive buzz. Hunter and Clifford both had three shots. Sutter decided to play Hunter, who scored just his second goal this season, following the Kings’ morning skate. The Blackhawks, who lead the NHL with 50 points, where shut out for the fourth time this season. The Hawks are 9-2-1 in its last 12 and 13-3-3 at home. Corey Crawford stopped 36 shots and was exceptional in his third straight start following a string of six consecutive starts by backup Ray Emery. Crawford made seven close-in saves in the second period – including a stop on Mike Richards’ penalty shot – when the Kings dominated.The Kings killed all four power plays, and haven’t allowed a goal in their past 20 short-handed situations. The Blackhawks were 10-0-1 against Kings in the teams last 11 meetings.The Kings wasted a four-minute advantage early in the first period after Patrick Sharp was sent off for four minutes for high-sticking. Los Angeles managed just three shots during the power play. Hunter scored the only goal of the second, with 7:53 left, to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Crawford stopped a point-blank attempt by Kyle Clifford, then landed on his stomach. Hunter lofted in the rebound. Crawford kept it at 1-0 with a glove save on Richards’ backhand attempt on the penalty shot with 3:22 left in the second. Richards was awarded the attempt after he slipped past forward Jonathan Toews, who had lost his stick, and broke in alone. Toews caught Richards, but pushed him down from behind.Stoll made it 2-0 at 1:16 of the third. Quick made his toughest saves in the third. He stopped Michael Frolik’s shot from the crease, and a rebound by Toews with nine minutes left. Just seconds later, Quick smothered a chance from a scrum in the crease. Quenneville felt neither Kings goal should have counted because of Los Angeles “infractions” on the plays. Quenneville claimed there was goalie interference on Hunter’s goal, and added that a Kings player committed a slew foot during Stoll’s tally.

NOTES—Los Angeles ended a six-game losing streak in the United Center, dating to December 2007…..Dan Carcillo sat out a sixth game with an upper body injury…..Marcus Kruger (upper body) also missed the game. Kruger had returned on Monday, following a one-game absence, after taking a hit to the head from Pittsburgh’s Deryk Engelland last week.