CHICAGO – Mathieu Garon stopped 32 shots and Los Angeles’ penalty killing was perfect for the third straight game in the Kings’ 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.
Eric Belanger had a goal and assist, and Michael Cammalleri, Alexander Frolov and Craig Conroy also scored for the Kings.
Los Angeles was 6-for-6 on the penalty kill, including a 5-on-3 disadvantage that lasted 35 seconds in the middle period. The Kings have turned away 21 straight power-play chances by opponents. The last time they were touched up for a man-advantage goal was midway through the second period of a 4-0 loss at Phoenix on Nov. 3.
Brent Seabrook and Mikael Holmqvist scored for the Blackhawks, who got 23 saves from Nikolai Khabibulin.
Seabrook opened the scoring with 5:13 left in the first period when his screened wrist shot from the point struck Garon and deflected in.
Belanger tied it 1-1 with 1:37 remaining in the first. From just outside the crease, he chipped a rebound of Jeff Cowan’s shot from right wing between Khabibulin’s pads.
Cammalleri’s deflection with just 5.3 seconds left in the period put Los Angeles ahead 2-1. As he cut through the slot, Cammalleri redirected Dustin Brown’s feed from the left boards past Khabibulin’s glove.
Frolov made it 3-1 at 1:54 of the second as the Kings capitalized on a failed Chicago clearing attempt. Belanger picked up a loose puck just inside the blue line, skated to the net, then passed across the slot to Frolov, who fired into an open net.
Conroy’s power-play goal with 1:40 left in the second extended the lead to 4-1. His pass attempt across the crease was blocked by Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith. But the puck bounced back onto Conroy’s stick and he fired a shot over Khabibulin’s shoulder.
Holmqvist completed the scoring with nine seconds left.
Notes: Conroy has scored in three straight games. … Los Angeles C Derek Armstrong sat out with a recurring groin injury. He played Wednesday in Colorado after missing five straight games. … Kings D Mike Weaver missed his fifth game with a broken foot, but is scheduled to rejoin the team Saturday in Columbus. … Belanger’s goal was his 50th with the Kings. … Chicago D Jassen Cullimore missed his second straight game because of the flu.
AP-ES-11-11-05 2311EST
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