The Kings ended a four-game drought without a power-play goal when right wing Justin Williams chipped a backhander into the back of the net in the first period of Saturday’s victory over the Dallas Stars. Their last power-play goal was in an Oct. 9 win over the Ottawa Senators. Of equal or greater importance to Kings coach Darryl Sutter was the penalty-killing unit’s ongoing excellence. He was pleased by their success, of course, but only to a point. Sutter always believes the Kings can do better. At everything. All the time.

The Kings have killed off 14 consecutive shorthanded situations over their last four games, with goaltender Jonathan Quick serving as their best penalty killer during Saturday’s victory over the Stars. Quick made several excellent saves while the Kings were shorthanded. The Kings might have relied on him a little too much for Sutter’s taste.

“There were times tonight we killed the penalty and there were other teams we didn’t and Quick had to make big saves he should haven’t to,” Sutter said.