Dustin Brown scored on the Kings’ first shot in the first minute of the game, whistling a one-timer from the left faceoff circle past goalie Semyon Varlamov. Brown nearly had a second goal later in the period, but clanged another shot from dangerous territory off the post.

The Kings extended their lead to 2-0 when Jeff Carter snapped a long-distance shot from just off the left circle past Varlamov at 14:22 of the first period. Carter has a team-leading nine goals, including five in his last six games.

Not co-incidentally, the Kings were 4-1 since Carter began to heat up. His hot streak began with two goals in the Kings’ victory Feb. 11 over the St. Louis Blues. His goal Saturday seemed like a harmless enough shot, but he released it with trademark quickness and it hit the back of the net.

Jonathan Quick started in goal for the Kings and made nine saves in the opening period, including a point-blank try by Colorado’s Paul Stastny from point-blank range in the closing minutes of the first. Quick looked to improve his record to the break-even mark at 5-5-2.