What we learned from the Kings’ 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins

The up-and-down day and night for the Kings ended on a decidedly high note as goalie Jonathan Quick recorded his 34^th career shutout. It was the second time he has shut out the Bruins. Quick’s performance is among the takeaways from Tuesday night’s win at Staples Center.

Quick is, well, Quick

Quick’s flexibility and athleticism are widely known, and he moved smartly from post to post, making a highlight reel save on the Bruins’ Torey Krug.

He usually downplays those big moments, but Quick revealed that he thought he heard a whistle and didn’t move at first as the play unfolded in the third period. He then more than made up for that brief hesitation, sliding over to deny Krug.

“The one save he made in the third period was Quickie-like, and the one that we probably needed to get the two points,” said Kings center Anze Kopitar. “It was a great performance, obviously, by him.”

Kopitar sparked by new line-mates

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter has been tinkering with the lines and may have hit on a useful combination, putting Kopitar with wingers Tanner Pearson and Jeff Carter.

At the very least, it could be a temporary solution until right wing Marian Gaborik returns to the lineup. Gaborik has missed the last two games because of an upper-body injury and has had an injury-marred season already.

Kopitar ended a five-game pointless streak, recording two assists in the win against the Bruins. It was his first multi-point performance since Nov. 18 against Florida, in which he also had two assists. Pearson also broke out of a scoring slump, recording his first goal in four games.

“I thought we had some good offensive zone time,” Kopitar said. “The one thing I think we can still clean up is maybe coming out of our zone, and some play in the neutral zone.

“But I think we’re on the right path, so we’ve got to keep working at it.”

Importance of Martinez underscored

Surely you have not forgotten how entrenched the defenseman Alec Martinez was in Sutter’s doghouse last season. He was scratched frequently in October and didn’t hold a regular spot in the lineup until February.

Those were trying times for Martinez, tough days and nights before his big series-clinching goals in the playoffs, against Chicago in the Western Conference final and the Rangers in the Stanley Cup final.

This season, he missed seven games because of an injured finger and returned to action against the Bruins, logging 19 minutes of action.

Afterward, Sutter fielded questions about the game and then wondered why no one was asking him about Martinez.

“Whenever guys come back from injuries they have a lot of energy, and he and Robyn [Regehr] were really good tonight,” Sutter said.

Twitter: @reallisa