Kopitar scores twice in big first period as Kings rout Blackhawks
CHICAGO » Anze Kopitar scored two of the Kings' four goals in the first period, and they beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 on Friday night.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Laferriere and Jordan Spence each had a goal and an assist to help Los Angeles rebound from a 3-1 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday. The Kings strengthened their hold on third place in the Pacific Division and a Western Conference playoff spot.
Cam Talbot made 28 saves in his third shutout of the season and No. 31 for his career.
Kopitar, the Kings' 36-year-old captain, recorded his 19th and 20th goals off pinpoint cross-ice passes by 21-year-old Quinton Byfield. He reached the 20-goal mark for the 13th time in 18 seasons.
Adrian Kempe had two assists for Los Angeles, which is 6-0-2 in its past eight games against Chicago dating to November 2019.
The Kings chased Chicago goalie Arvid Soderblom with 3:41 left in the first period after connecting on four of 14 shots. Petr Mrazek relieved and blocked 22 of 23 shots.
The last-place Blackhawks were blanked for the 10th time after winning two straight games for only the second time this season. Chicago scored 14 goals in
THE SCORE KINGS 5, BLACKHAWKS 0 Kings at Stars, today, 5 p.m., BSW
Up next: the back-to-back victories.
Dubois played in his 500th game. Spence, a defenseman, scored his first goal this season in 55 games.
Blackhawks prospect Landon Slaggert played in his first pro game. The 21-year-old forward was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft.
The Kings connected three times in a span of just under five minutes early in the first period.
Dubois scored his 15th goal 3:10 into the game, taking advantage of a powerplay opportunity. Spence's wide shot from the slot bounced off the backboards, and Dubois ripped in the puck from the left circle on a sharp angle.
Laferriere got his 10th at 5:33 on a midair deflection of Matt Roy's drive from the top of the right circle. Kopitar made it 3-0 at 8:03, firing into a wide-open net from the right circle after taking Byfield's pass from the left side.