Kings shut out Flames, move into first wild card in West

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings moved back into a Stanley Cup Playoff spot with a 3-0 win against the Calgary Flames at Staples Center on Monday.
Anze Kopitar and Dion Phaneuf each had a goal and an assist, and Jonathan Quick made 23 saves for Los Angeles (42-28-7), which moved into the first wild card from the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche and two ahead of the St. Louis Blues.

The Kings and the Anaheim Ducks each have 91 points, but the Ducks own the tiebreaker for third place in the Pacific Division because they have played one fewer game.
WATCH: [All Flames vs. Kings highlights]
"I guess this time of year, it doesn't really matter how you do it, but you got to figure out ways to win, and we did that tonight," Kopitar said.
Mike Smith made 26 saves for Calgary (35-32-10), which was eliminated from playoff contention. The Flames have been outscored 28-7 in a six-game losing streak (0-6-0), including being shut out three times in their past five games.
Calgary was without injured forwards Sean Monahan (undisclosed) and Matthew Tkachuk (upper body), and forward Johnny Gaudreau left the Flames on Monday to be with his father, Guy Gaudreau, who had a cardiac event Sunday.
"You can see that we're a little bit dependent on some of our top guys to create most of our offense, and that's an issue that is coming to light a little bit," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said.
Phaneuf gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 4:04 of the second period, scoring five seconds into a power play with a slap shot from the point off a face-off past a screened Smith.

The goal was Phaneuf's fourth, all on the power play, since being acquired by the Kings in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 13.
"The key on power play, if you get people to the net, and you get opportunities for lanes to the net, and you shoot the puck early, it really forces the penalty killers to turn and face their net," Kings coach John Stevens said. "Once Dion shot the first one there, it really had a ripple effect where guys were looking to move the puck quick and get it to the net."
Kopitar scored a power-play goal to make it 2-0 at 11:55 with a wrist shot from the left circle under Smith's glove. Kopitar, who has eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past five games, tied his career-high in goals with 34 (2009-10).
Carter extended the lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal at 8:24 of the third period, scoring five-hole on Smith off his own rebound in the crease.
"I'm not blaming our guys," Gulutzan said. "I think we made some mistakes on the penalty kill that we certainly have to address. We shouldn't be making those mistakes at this time. However, the effort I'm not going to question. They battled."

Goal of the game

Phaneuf's goal at 4:04 of the second period.

Save of the game

Quick's save on Troy Brouwer at 1:07 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Carter's goal at 8:24 of the third period.

They said it

"We haven't been the greatest home team, but we still have fate in our hands. That's the position we want to be in and we got to take care of business." -- Kings center Anze Kopitar on playing four of their final five games at home
"If you don't win the specialty teams game, no matter what time of the year it is, chances are you're not going to win the game." -- Flames coach Glen Gulutzan

Need to know

Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin left the game at 2:49 of the second period with an upper-body injury. He was injured when he fell awkwardly into the corner on a hit by Micheal Ferland. … Los Angeles forward Dustin Brown had two assists and has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games.

What's next

Flames: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Kings:Host the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; PRIME, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)