Kings’ Quick earns shutout, Carter scores in shootout in win over Blues

The Kings and St. Louis Blues reached back into the 2012 archives, dusted off the script and produced one of their oldies.

You know, those lack-of-offense, grind-it-out classics from late in the 2011-12 regular season, highlighting the best of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and his Blues counterpart Brian Elliott.

Quick and Elliott were on the case once again, and neither allowed a goal in regulation Thursday night at Staples Center. The issue was decided in a shootout with the Kings winning, 1-0.

It was the Kings’ third straight victory after they opened the season with losses to the Sharks and Coyotes, the latter in overtime. St. Louis has not recorded a win at Staples Center since March 17, 2011.

Quick was especially sharp, making 43 saves, including four in overtime.

The only player to score in the shootout was Kings center Jeff Carter. All three Blues players — T.J. Oshie, Alex Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko —– were unable to score.

Oshie was the star of the shootout for Team USA at the Olympics this winter in Sochi, Russia.

For Quick, it was a career milestone.

With the shutout, he tied Kings’ legend Rogie Vachon for career shutouts with 32. He came close to tying the mark Sunday against the Oilers, losing the shutout bid in the final 30 seconds.

Typically, Quick underplayed the achievement in his televised postgame interview.

“It’s two points,” he said. “It’s more about the wins than the shutouts.”

Elliott faced 18 shots and was on his game, in particular, in the third period. One of the Kings’ best chances came on the power play with Ian Cole off for cross-checking Kings left wing Tanner Pearson. Elliott made a fine glove save on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who was between the circles, at 8:32.

Doughty’s frustration was visible, and he had plenty of company.

During one third-period sequence, Elliott was forced to play with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester’s stick after he broke his own stick.

Quick had his highlight moment in the third period a few minutes later after Elliott’s save on Doughty, robbing Bouwmeester with a terrific glove save with seven minutes remaining. Two Kings went down to block the shot but Quick was there, keeping the game scoreless.

The game had an entirely different look and feel than the last two contests at Staples Center, which was not a surprise considering the Blues offered a far more significant challenge than the likes of Edmonton and Winnipeg.

“Just like writers or coaches, or fans — everyone knows who the elite-level teams are,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said after Thursday’s morning skate. “Our approach doesn’t stay the same, but we also understand that we’re not going to get away with not being prepared against a team like the Blues.”

The game had a physical tone that is almost expected when the Kings and Blues meet. Quick had some edgy moments with Steen in the first period after Steen took a couple of extra hacks at Quick.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: @reallisa