Cloutier works to regain edge

The Ducks’ Corey Perry may have unintentionally had a hand, or rather face, in improving the Kings’ goaltending situation.

Perry was lurking near the crease during Sunday’s game, when goaltender Dan Cloutier reached out and swatted him with his glove hand, a go-away-kid-you’re-bothering-me moment in a 3-2 Kings victory.

The day before against the Ducks, Cloutier picked up a two-minute roughing penalty after shoving Perry to the ice in the crease, though Cloutier contends the incident was “accidental.”

These are moments that Kings goaltender coach Bill Ranford wholeheartedly approves, as Cloutier tries to work himself out of a season-long slump that has made him the face for fan dissatisfaction.

“Dan is getting the edge back in his game,” Ranford said. “When you’re in the type of slump he has been in, sometimes you lose your competitive juices. I told him with everything that’s going on, go out and have some fun.”

Some of Cloutier’s “fun” can be viewed on youtube.com, but a preview of that was seen when he slapped Perry on Sunday. Cloutier played his best game of the season, stopping 27 shots, which included a handful of brilliant saves.

“Throughout my career, I’ve played my best when I’m a little edgy,” Cloutier said.

Whether that was a turning point or a momentary deceleration in a descent is to be seen. But the game came at an opportune time, with goaltender Mathieu Garon on the shelf with a groin injury and a string of difficult games ahead, starting tonight against the Nashville Predators.

Cloutier’s 3.75 goals-against average and .866 save percentage still rank the worst among the 41 NHL goaltenders who have played at least 10 games.

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Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, a Kings fourth-round pick in June, has been selected to play for the United States at the World Junior Championships to be held later this month in Sweden. Kings prospects Jack Johnson and Trevor Lewis will also play for Team USA.

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier, a Kings first-round pick in June, will play for Canada.

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Kings Coach Marc Crawford needed six stitches to close a gash in his forehead after being struck by a puck Wednesday during practice.

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 10-15-4, Predators 17-7-3.

Record vs. Predators (2005-06) -- 2-2-0.

Update -- The Kings have scored 11 goals in their last 35 power plays and have climbed to ninth in the NHL at 18.4%.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

chris.foster@latimes.com