Kings stay hot, win 5th straight
Jonathan Quick made 24 saves, Christian Folin scored the game’s first goal midway through the third period and the Los Angeles Kings beat the host Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Sunday night for their fifth straight victory.
The Kings have allowed six goals during their streak, which has moved them to first in the Pacific Division and second in the Western Conference. Their run follows a 1-6-1 slide.
“It’s fun,” said Folin. “I think we’re pushing each other as a group. That’s something we’re going to need going forward.”
Quick turned aside some tough chances, especially when Chicago outshot Los Angeles 15-6 in the second period, before losing a bid for his third shutout this season.
Chicago has lost four straight. It was in position to pull this one out after picking up the pace in the second period and entering the third in a scoreless tie.
“The game’s right there for us to make the plays and have a big third period, and it turned out be a tough, tough loss,” coach Joel Quenneville said.
Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season, Blake Wheeler had a goal and three assists, and the Western Conference-leading Jets crushed the visiting Ottawa Senators 5-0.
Tyler Seguin’s two early goals led the Dallas Stars over the host Colorado Avalanche 7-2 for their fifth consecutive win.
Reilly Smith scored the winning goal at 3:51 of overtime as the host Vegas Golden Knights beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 to snap a three-game skid.
The NHL fined Sharks forward Joe Thornton $5,000 after he slashed Tampa Bay forward Tyler Johnson during the Sharks’ 5-2 loss to the Lightning on Saturday. Women’s hockey: Brianne Jenner scored 37 seconds into overtime to give Canada a 2-1 victory over the United States in a pre-Olympic exhibition in St. Paul, Minn. Megan Keller scored for the United States.
Skiing: After crashing in the season-opening downhill Friday, American star Lindsey Vonn fell again Sunday in the women’s World Cup super-G at Lake Louise, Alberta, but was able to ski to the bottom. Fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin was fifth. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein got the win in sunny conditions.
Marcel Hirscher of Austria stormed back from a first-run deficit to win a World Cup giant slalom race at Beaver Creek, Colo., as rival Ted Ligety of the U.S. struggled. Soccer: David Silva prodded home a volley from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross in the 83rd minute and Manchester City beat West Ham 2-1 for a record-equaling 13th straight English Premier League win. Golf: Dylan Frittelli beat Arjun Atwal with a birdie on the first playoff hole to clinch the Mauritius Open title, his second European Tour title in his first year on the tour.