Adrian Kempe, Viktor Arvidsson give Kings shootout win over Canucks
Adrian Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson scored in the shootout, Jonathan Quick made 17 saves and the Kings snapped the Vancouver Canucks’ seven-game winning streak under new coach Bruce Boudreau with a 2-1 victory Thursday night.
Brendan Lemieux scored his sixth goal of the season in the second period for the Kings, who earned a point for the sixth time in eight games and snapped a five-game skid in their Pacific Division rivalry with Vancouver.
Bo Horvat scored Vancouver’s tying goal with 7:54 left in regulation, and J.T. Miller extended his scoring streak to eight games with an assist for the Canucks.
Kempe scored in the first round of the shootout, and Horvat tied it in the third. Arvidsson connected for L.A. in the fifth round, and Quick stopped former Kings teammate Tanner Pearson to end it.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 34 shots while carrying the Canucks for long stretches of his first start since Dec. 14 and his second since Nov. 28. The well-traveled 36-year-old veteran has made just eight appearances behind starter Thatcher Demko.
Boudreau’s winning streak began with a 4-0 victory over the Kings in his debut in Vancouver on Dec. 6. The likable veteran bench boss then tied the NHL record for the longest winning streak to start a coaching tenure when the Canucks beat his former Anaheim Ducks team in overtime last Wednesday night.
It has been nearly 10 years since Jack Jablonski was paralyzed during a high school hockey game, but his spirit for life remains unbroken.
Quick gave the latest excellent performance in his impressive bounce-back season, but lost his shutout bid during a power play caused by Arvidsson shooting the puck over the glass. Miller made an exceptional play to corral the puck and fling it toward the net to Horvat, who tapped it home for his 11th goal.
Quick stopped Horvat on a breakaway in overtime after a turnover by Kings captain Anze Kopitar.
After a scoreless first period, Blake Lizotte’s forechecking forced a turnover that led to Lemieux’s deflection of Christian Wolanin’s long shot. Lemieux’s six goals in 21 games for L.A. are more than he scored in 49 games last season between the Rangers and Kings.
Lemieux also drew a penalty shot 57 seconds into the third period when Tyler Myers chopped at him on a breakaway, but Halak easily stopped Lemieux’s low attempt.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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