Spokesman-Review
National Hockey League
Los Angeles 2, Vancouver 1
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 30, 2021
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Referees: Tom Chmielewski, Garrett Rank
Linesmen: Kyle Flemington, Vaughan Rody
Attendance: 14514

Jonathan Quick made 17 saves and stopped four of five attempts in the shootout to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 win against the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Quick was given the start two nights after allowing five goals on 15 shots and getting pulled in a 6-3 loss to the visiting Vegas Golden Knights.

Brendan Lemieux scored in regulation and Viktor Arvidsson and Adrian Kempe scored in the shootout for the Kings.

Bo Horvat scored the tying goal in the third period and Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves for the Canucks, who were coming off a 2-1 overtime win at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, their seventh straight win.

Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau was trying to become the first NHL coach to win his first eight games with a new team.

On Thursday, the Canucks went on a power play when Arvidsson flipped the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game penalty at 11:09 of the third period. Less than a minute later, J.T. Miller fed Horvat for a redirection that tied the score 1-1 at 12:06. Miller extended his point streak to eight games (three goals, nine assists).

After a scoreless first period, the Kings turned up the pressure to start the second.

Carl Grundstrom hit the post from the slot at 2:07, and Halak robbed Kempe on back-to-back shots at 4:05. The Kings' efforts ultimately paid off, however, as they broke through at 7:39.

Blake Lizotte forced a turnover in the Vancouver end and the puck went to Christian Wolanin at the left point. He took a slap shot and Lemieux deflected the puck past Halak for his sixth goal of the season.

The Canucks went nearly 10 minutes without a shot on goal and were outshot 16-3 in the second period.

For the second straight night, Vancouver was blanked in the first two periods and trailed 1-0 entering the third.

Lemieux was awarded a penalty shot 57 seconds into the third period, but Halak made the save to keep the deficit at one goal.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Vancouver   Los Angeles
Bo Horvat 1 Points Brendan Lemieux 1
Bo Horvat 1 Goals Brendan Lemieux 1
J.T. Miller 1 Assists Christian Wolanin 1
Bo Horvat 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jaroslav Halak .971 Save Percentage Jonathan Quick .944
Jaroslav Halak 34 Saves Jonathan Quick 17
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vancouver 18 1 1-1 1-1 4 24
Los Angeles 35 2 0-1 0-1 6 27
Upcoming Games
  • Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Kings have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .444 after a loss.
  • Vancouver will play their next game on the road against Seattle. The Canucks have a W/L % of .533 after a win and .389 after a loss.