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Quick helps Kings thwart Devils, extend winning streak

Feb 8, 2009 - 5:29 AM NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Kings rookie Jonathan Quick turned in a performance the New Jersey Devils consistently hope for once their injured veteran goaltender returns.

Quick made 25 saves as the Kings extended their winning streak to three games Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Devils.

Jarret Stoll and Anze Kopitar scored before Patrick O'Sullivan converted a penalty shot to punctuate a dominant second period for the Kings, who have won six of their last seven contests.

"The team played great," Quick said. "It was one of the better games that we've played since I've been up here in December. It was a great team win."

Scott Clemmensen stopped 29 shots and Dainius Zubrus netted the lone goal for New Jersey, which lost for the second time in three games.

"They kept coming and we didn't to start the second, and that's where we got on our heels," Clemmensen said. "They scored three unanswered goals on us. We didn't really respond the way we needed to after the first and second goals. We really dug ourselves a hole and really couldn't catch our breath there."

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Martin Brodeur has been out since November 1 with a torn distal biceps muscle. But the future Hall of Famer began skating in practice on Saturday and may return as early as February 26 for a home game against Colorado.

The Devils appeared to take a 1-0 lead three minutes into the first period, but Zubrus' goal was waved off after video review showed he kicked the puck over the goal line while being pushed onto Quick by Alexander Frolov and defenseman Jack Johnson during a scrum in front of the net.

"That happens a lot during the season," New Jersey All-Star Zach Parise said of the disallowed goal. "It's not something we haven't seen before. We should be able to rebound from that."

The Devils' luck continued to rapidly disintegrate from there.

Stoll opened the scoring by firing a slap shot from above the right faceoff circle past Clemmensen with 9:37 remaining in the second. Kopitar doubled the bulge just over two minutes later by deflecting O'Sullivan's shot while stationed on the doorstep.

"It's good to get the points," Stoll said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing as long as we're playing well, playing solid, a 60-minute game. That's exactly what it was tonight - a simple, smart road game. It's good to get on the road and get together as a group of guys."

The Devils' defense fizzled again with 5:23 remaining in the session. After Kopitar attempted a shot, New Jersey defenseman Mike Mottau fell backward into the crease before closing his hand on the loose puck, giving O'Sullivan his first career penalty shot.

O'Sullivan skated in on Clemmensen and used several dekes before unleashing a hard wrist shot that went just inside the left goalpost for his 13th tally of the season.

"We didn't play well enough to succeed tonight," New Jersey coach Brent Sutter said. "There's not much more to say than that."

The Kings held a 13-6 margin in shots during the middle period.

Zubrus ended Quick's bid for a second shutout in three games with 9:19 remaining in the contest.

"(Quick has) grown very quickly here in his time since he's been called up due to injuries to other players and the trade (of Jason LaBarbera)," Los Angeles coach Terry Murray said. "You go through this (Eastern) Conference and you're playing some really great hockey teams. ... It's a great opportunity for him, and he's taken advantage of it."

After watching Kevin Weekes make 31 saves in his first start in eight games on Friday, Clemmensen surrendered three goals or more for the fourth straight contest.

One of the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL with 134 goals, the Kings have netted 28 tallies in their last seven games.

"We're shooting to make the playoffs," Murray said. "We know you have to play very well to get yourself in there. Guys are responding. There's a great locker room in there. They care for each other, and it's carried onto the ice."