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SPORTS Monday 7 January 2019

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Continued from Page 18 Arizona on Wednesday be-
fore rallying to win.
A few minutes after Kopitar “What has to change for
got his milestone goal in us (is) we’re a situation-mo-
the third period, Quick fin- tivated team,” Hitchcock
ished up his own landmark said. “I’ve only been here
win along with his 51st ca- 20 games, and I see the sit-
reer shutout. uation motivates them. We
“Feels pretty good,” said lose, we get embarrassed,
Kopitar, the fifth player we get motivated, and
to score 300 goals for the that isn’t a playoff team.
Kings. “I was hoping it was That isn’t a playoff attitude,
going to come a little bit and we have to change.
earlier than that, but it’s But this can’t be accept-
here, and I’m proud of able. ... I don’t know what
that. ... It’s great for Quick- it is, but we’ll figure it out.”
ie. He’s, in my mind, the All-Star Drew Doughty had
best goalie in the world. It’s two early assists for the
very comforting to have Kings, who are on their first
him back there, and a privi- sustained stretch of strong
lege to play in front of him.” play after languishing at
Quick made 16 saves and the bottom of the league
combined with his defense for much of the season. Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, left, and goaltender Jonathan Quick congratulate each
to end the five-game scor- With these two points, Los other after an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Los
ing streaks of Edmonton Angeles moved above Angeles.
stars Connor McDavid and Ottawa, Philadelphia and Associated Press
Leon Draisaitl. St. Louis while pulling even
“As far as 300 wins, it’s just at the bottom of the Pa-
a group of guys that I’ve cific Division with Arizona,
been lucky enough to play albeit with more games
with,” Quick said. “Hopeful- played. They’re small but
ly we keep going. We want vital movements for the
to win some more games. Kings after a dismal first
For Kopi, that’s awesome. half of the season that in-
He’s more of a playmaker cluded the firing of coach
than a goal-scorer, so 300 John Stevens. The Kings
goals, that’s a lot.” ranked 30th in the 31-team
Kyle Clifford, Tyler Toffoli NHL with only 22 first-period
and Jeff Carter scored dur- goals before they got three
ing a dominant first period more past the Oilers.
in the Kings’ sixth win in nine Clifford put the Kings up just
games since mid-Decem- 3:15 in when he took a pass
ber. Mikko Koskinen yield- at mid-ice, skated around
ed three goals on eight Caleb Jones and flipped in
Kings shots before Cam Tal- his sixth goal. Toffoli scored
bot replaced him in the first after Doughty kept an Oil-
period for the Oilers. ers turnover in the zone
Edmonton coach Ken and set up the forward
Hitchcock castigated his for only his second goal
team after its seventh loss in 25 games. Carter then
in eight games. chased Koskinen with his
“We had one player show eighth goal of the season.
up and play,” Hitchcock NOTES: Kings F Carl Hagelin
said. “Darnell Nurse was our returned from a 20-game
best player by a mile ... and absence with a knee injury.
that’s all we had. We didn’t The Swede played in only
compete. Their best play- five games after Los Ange-
ers were their best players. les acquired him from Pitts-
We didn’t compete. This is burgh in a trade for Tanner
on everybody. When you Pearson before getting
have one player that com- hurt. ... Edmonton RW Alex
petes at a high level in a Chiasson returned from a
game like this, it can’t be three-game absence with
acceptable. There’s been a sore knee. ... Oilers D Matt
too much of this go on in Benning was scratched for
the first 41 games. We win only the second time since
one, and then we take our Oct. 25. He left the road trip
foot off the gas, and that’s to attend his grandfather’s
exactly what we did.” funeral in Edmonton on Fri-
The poor first period was day. Former Kings D Kevin
a rerun for the Oilers, who Gravel took his spot in the
also struggled early against Oilers’ lineup. q