Kings have plenty to smile about after 4-2 win over Ducks

By Lisa Dillman

March 3, 2012 12 AM PT

Smiles from Kings forward Jeff Carter.

Harsh words from Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau.

There you have it: The tell-tale signs about the identity of the winning and losing teams on Saturday night at Staples Center.

Indeed, it was the Kings prevailing, 4-2, against the Ducks on the strength of Carter’s first two goals since recently joining the Kings. Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick made 29 saves and Carter’s linemate and close buddy Mike Richards added three assists, the first three-point night from the center since Oct. 27 at Dallas.

Speaking of Dallas …

The Kings pulled within a point of the eighth-place Stars in the tense Western Conference race. Anaheim, meanwhile, remains seven points behind Dallas and, on top of that, there are three teams between the Ducks and Stars, including the Kings.

All this led to Kings Coach Darryl Sutter cracking a couple of one-liners in his post-game media session, and Boudreau cracking hard on the officiating, which, most likely will lead to a fine from the NHL.

First, Sutter, on starting a four-game trip on Tuesday, at Nashville: “It’s a tough place to play. They haven’t lost at home since Christ was a child.”

The comedy hour did not extend down the hallway to Boudreau.

“It was some of the worst calls I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “A game of this importance, we can’t have officiating making calls like that. I mean, there’s three penalties that weren’t penalties I know that we took.”

In particular, he was referring to the first-period slashing penalty to Luca Sbisa and second-period calls against Nik Hagman (tripping in the neutral zone) and Nick Bonino (interference).

“If we’re busting our[selves] all night long and playing our fifth game in seven nights,” Boudreau said, “I mean, we needed better. From them.”

Carter’s first goal with the Kings -- and 16^th of the season -- came just 18 seconds after Hagman went off for tripping as he scored on a rebound, at 2:39 of the second period. He added another goal by the end of the second, at even-strength, to put the Kings ahead 3-1. The Ducks goals were scored by defenseman Sheldon Brookbank and rookie forward Devante Smith-Pelly.

“It’s everything. Obviously the two points were the big thing, but I’m happy that I could get a couple and help the team get a victory here,” Carter said. “It’s just been a lot of fun since I got here.”

Earlier, after the morning skate, Carter said he was not worried that he had not scored in his first three games since joining the Kings from Columbus in the Jack Johnson trade.

“I’ve always been told that if you’re getting chances, they’re going to come,” he said. “It’s something that’s always kind of stuck with me and I just kind of went with it. It worked out tonight.”

Helene Elliott: No time for regrets for Kings and Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf makes some noise in Ducks win over Kings

Lisa.dillman@latimes.com
twitter.com/reallisa