Quick earns first shutout of his career

With one strong game, Jonathan Quick greatly improved his numbers.

Quick was 0-1-0 with a 4.68 goals-against average, yet easily turned away 24 shots for his first career shutout in the Kings’ 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.

“Our penalty kill and our defense played excellent all game long,” said Quick, who got the start in relief of Jason LaBarbera because Erik Ersberg was out with a groin injury. “They limited their chances. They cleared rebounds, they picked up sticks in front. They took care of most of the work for me so it made it a bit easier.”

Raitis Ivanans and Peter Harrold scored their first goals of the season, Patrick O’Sullivan had a goal and an assist and Anze Kopitar had two assists.

The Kings ended a four-game losing skid overall and a string of four straight losses on the road. Ivanans and O’Sullivan scored in the opening period and the lead was never in doubt.

“The first period was probably our best first period of the year,” Coach Terry Murray said. “We came out and responded to a disappointing game, or the way we finished, in Detroit [in a 6-4 loss on Saturday]. The players felt a responsibility to come out with a lot of energy. And they did.”

It was the second time in 17 days that the Kings beat the Blue Jackets, 3-0. LaBarbera had 23 saves in a win at Staples Center on Dec. 6.

“They kicked us hard early. They won all the board battles,” Columbus Coach Ken Hitchcock said. “It took us 25 minutes to get into the game. [The Kings] played hard, they’re big and strong. They have a lot of veteran, strong players and guys who know how to compete.”

Quick was never challenged.

Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash had a goal disallowed midway through the third period because of a high stick.

Steve Mason stopped 39 shots for Columbus, which had won its last five at home.

“Other than our goaltender, we were poor today,” Hitchcock said.