Final: Montreal 4, Kings 3

The Kings allowed two third-period goals, including the game-winner with 22 seconds left on Andrei Markov’s power play goal. Denis Gauthier was assessed a game misconduct for charging, and he’s suspended indefinitely until the play is reviewed by the commissioner. The Kings snapped a three-game win streak. It was their first of five consecutive road games.

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Boy hit by puck doing fine

Good news…The boy who was hit by a puck during last night’s game at Staples Center has a hairline fracture of the skull and received several stitches. He’s doing well.
The Kings gave the boy an autographed Dustin Brown Stick and invited him to a future game. He’ll get to hang out with the team in the locker room after the game, too.

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On the road again…

The Kings will play 12 of their next 16 games on the road, beginning with Saturday’s game at Montreal. This is a huge trip as the Kings try to build on their recent success. Like the Lakers and Clippers, the Kings don’t play much at Staples Center because of award shows, the World Figure Skating Championships, the Pac-10 Basketball Tournament and other things. Of these 12 road games, how many do you think the Kings need to win for it to be a successful trip?

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Player postgame quotes

KINGS FORWARD JARRET STOLL:
(Re game recap): “We know we can beat good teams. We were on and off here tonight and not as consistent as we wanted to be and they were kind of all over us in the third but Quick held us in it and Frolov gave us a timely goal. We needed that one bad and then that empty netter. We got the two points which we wanted but we can do better. We know we have to be better on the road trip especially in Montreal for the start of it. We know we got away with one here but sometimes it’s on the other end of the stick and its nice when it goes your way.”

(Re coming off break/road trip): “Getting five out of six points was huge and we have to play that kind of hockey. We have to be gritty and be a great checking team. And with this team here we know we can score goals when the time comes. That’s what we did on that road trip. We just have to play simple and smart road games and get some points out of it. It all comes from being smart and playing our system to a tee.”

KINGS FORWARD DUSTIN BROWN:
(Re game recap): “Our goal scorers are going to have score goals for us to win. I think the big picture here is that we got goal scoring from elsewhere and it’s going to be key at this juncture of the season. They’re going to be focusing on the key guys and that’s when you get a goal from a guy that doesn’t score a lot and that’s going to be the difference maker in a lot of these games to come. ”

(Re key to the game): ” I think our start to the game was pretty good. We got a power-play goal and an even strength goal and we’re up 2-0. I think playing with a lead really helped us tonight.”

(Re playing against Chicago): “It’s always a challenge. They have a lot of young players on their team right now and their creating a lot of buzz and in a playoff spot which is where we need to be.”

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Murray postgame quotes

KINGS HEAD COACH TERRY MURRAY:
(Re game recap): “We wanted to get a good start, get two points against a good hockey club. It wasn’t pretty all of the time but the bottom lines is that we got two points against a really good team and after eight days off, that was a tough assignment tonight…The focal point of the game here tonight was a quick shot attitude the whole night. Anywhere in the offensive zone we wanted to get the puck there as quickly as possible, let’s not look for an extra play.”

(Re Calder, Stoll, Brown line): “They play well together; they play hard and score goals. They have some good chemistry right now and I can’t answer it any other way. It’s just something that’s come together that they are feeding of each other. We’ll leave it together for another game.”

(Re Quick’s Performance): “Quick saved our bacon a couple of times out there tonight, he played very well. He’s been that way through most every game that he’s played. We knew that we had to have good goaltending tonight. That eight-day break is nice to have, you get rested. But professional hockey players getting away for eight days from intense competition means your timing is off, that’s all there is to it and your goaltender has to save you. Quick came up with some big stops. There were a lot of blocked shots, our guys are really committed. And we needed that tonight.”

(Re Jack Johnson) “He’s added good stuff to the game. He’s a big guy, strong, quick on his feet, closes fast defensively. He’s only going to get better as we move forward. It’s great to have him back and he’s excited to be back. He’s got a lot of energy and lots of game in him for the last part of the year.”

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Postgame notes

Some notes from the Kings…

The Kings have won three straight and have earned points in four straight (3-0-1). They have out-scored their opponent 16-9 during the win streak.

Dustin Brown, the reigning NHL No. 1 Star of the Week, has a career-high four-game goal streak. He has eight points in that span (5-3=8).

Kyle Calder has a four-game point streak (2-3=5).

Anze Kopitar has a four-game point streak (1-4=5).

Jarret Stoll has a three-game point streak (2-2=4). He played in his 99th consecutive game tonight.

Patrick O’Sullivan’s short-handed goal was the fourth of his career (third Kings short-handed goal this season).

Kyle Quincey has four assists in the last two games.

Alexander Frolov has four points in the last two games (3-1=4).

Jonathan Quick earned his first career assist on O’Sullivan’s goal.

The Kings have sold out seven of their last eight home games.

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