Who Are These Guys? Kings Make It Two Wins in a Row

If the Kings could have had more nights like Saturday, they probably wouldn’t still be hoping for an extended winning streak to make the playoffs.

Defensemen Jan Vopat and Jaroslav Modry scored first-period goals and Eddie Olczyk and Kai Nurminen also found the net as the Kings had a rare easy night with a 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks before an announced crowd of 12,420 at the Forum.

The Kings have 50 points, six behind the Canucks, who hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Goaltender Stephane Fiset had to stop only 18 shots--the least amount the Kings have faced all season--to record his third shutout of the season and ninth of his career. He has won two consecutive starts and has given up only five goals in his last four starts.

“It wasn’t so much that he faced a lot of shots, but the saves that he had to make were difficult,” King Coach Larry Robinson said. “He made the big saves at the right time, and that is what you look for from a goaltender.”

Forward Vladimir Tsyplakov had three assists as the Kings won their second game in a row for the first time since Jan. 11. On Thursday, the Kings defeated the Mighty Ducks, 3-1, at the Forum and now have four win streaks of at least two games this season.

Despite playing without injured regulars Rob Blake (knee), Kevin Stevens (ankle), Steven Finn (foot) and Doug Zmolek (irregular heartbeat), the Kings had 25 shots on goal to win for the second time in three games against the Canucks this season.

So maybe this is how the Kings envisioned their team before the season began, winning close games with a group of young, defensive-minded players mixed with some veterans such as Olczyk and Ray Ferraro.

Vopat, whose younger brother Roman had the game-winning goal against the Ducks, scored on the Kings’ first shot of the game 34 seconds into the first period. Vopat beat Vancouver goalie Corey Hirsch with a slap shot from the blue line.

Modry, who was recalled from the minors on Friday, scored his third goal of the season with 45.5 seconds remaining in the first period when he picked up an assist from Tsyplakov and scored from the left circle to give the Kings a 2-0 lead.

The Kings scored their third goal on a power-play goal by Olczyk 3:28 into the second period. It was the Kings’ first power-play score in 17 attempts and Olczyk’s 18th goal of the season.

The Kings took a a 4-0 lead early in the third period when Olczyk assisted to Nurminen, who scored on a backhand shot from the right circle 13 seconds into the period.

Forward Dimitri Khristich played well in his first game back since suffering an eye injury after being hit in practice by the stick of then teammate Barry Potomski on Feb. 7. Khristich centered a line with wingers Vitali Yachmenev and Tsyplakov.

“We need wins right now. . . . I feel that we are still in the race,” Fiset said. “Everyone played great tonight. This is how we want to play. Every game is still important for us.”