Quick makes 34 saves, Kings shut out Hurricanes

LOS ANGELES --Jonathan Quick made 34 saves, and Alec Martinez scored with 2:13 left in the third period for the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at Staples Center on Sunday.

Martinez redirected Jake Muzzin's cross-crease pass past Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.
Kyle Clifford scored an empty-net goal at 19:07 to make it 2-0.
"That was a pretty emotional one," Martinez said. "If anything, you wanted to do it for Quick] because [he] was simply outstanding. I've seen that guy play a lot of really good hockey, and that game was certainly up there. If for nothing else, do it for him."
***[WATCH: [All Hurricanes vs. Kings highlights]*
Quick got his first win of the season and 50th NHL shutout for Los Angeles (10-16-1), which had lost two straight.
Quick leads all U.S.-born goaltenders in career shutouts and is tied with Chris Osgood for 29th in NHL history.

Mrazek made 33 saves for Carolina (12-10-4), which has lost two straight (0-1-1). It was his first start since Nov. 2 (12 games) because of a lower-body injury.
"He kept us in there, made some big saves," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "The two goalies were kind of going back and forth. We needed someone to make a play, put it in the net, and we're not getting that right now."
The Hurricanes had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:30 during the third period but were unable to capitalize. Quick saved a shot from the high slot by Jordan Staal and followed it up with a save on Sebastian Aho's one-timer from Teuvo Teravainen.

The Kings went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill after entering the game 29th in the NHL at 72.7 percent.
"The PK unit did a great job tonight, especially on the 5-on-3," Quick said. "It takes a lot of courage blocking shots like those guys were doing. We got some clears on the 5-on-3, which was huge because it releases the pressure a little bit."
Mrazek made 13 saves in the first period to keep the game tied, including a one-timer by Jeff Carter during a Kings power play at 5:30, and a glove save on a breakaway by Tyler Toffoli at 11:13.
Quick made a pad save on a shot from Lucas Wallmark with eight seconds remaining in the first period.
Mrazek remained busy in the second period, as Los Angeles had three power plays, and made one of his better saves on a redirection by Dustin Brown at 17:05.

They said it

"End of the day, unfortunately, we took a breath at the end and it cost us. And we keep talking about that. We got to learn. We're a young group, and young guys (are) making those mistakes, I got to do a better job on just keep hammering home these points because we can't keep doing this." -- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour
"We need points. I don't care who's on the other side." -- Kings defenseman Alec Martinez

Need to know

Brown had an assist on Martinez's goal and has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games. … Muzzin is two points shy of 200 in the NHL. … Kings center Adrian Kempe did not play because of an upper-body injury and is considered day to day. Los Angeles used 11 forwards and seven defensemen with Kempe out. … Hurricanes defenseman Haydn Fleury returned after missing three games because of a concussion.

What's next

Hurricanes:At the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Kings:Host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)