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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou, right, keeps his balance as he skates after the puck with the Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick clears the puck in front of the Chicago Blackhawks’ Sam Lafferty, center, as the Kings’ Alexander Edler provides defensive support during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty, right, is defended by Kings defenseman Jordan Spence during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick makes a save during the first period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Blackhawks’ Philipp Kurashev is checked off the puck by the Kings’ Alex Iafallo during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Blackhawks’ Sam Lafferty, right, looks to pass as the Kings’ Jordan Spence defends during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Phillip Danault celebrates after scoring past Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Phillip Danault, center, celebrates his goal with Alex Iafallo in front of Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Phillip Danault (24) is hugged by teammates, including Sean Durzi (50) after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty prepares to take a shot on goal in front of Kings defenseman Sean Durzi during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou is hooked for a penalty by Dominik Kubalik (8) of the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik skates against the Kings during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia, left, stops a shot from Kings left wing Viktor Arvidsson, right, during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson keeps the puck from the Chicago Blackhawks’ Riley Stillman as he skates to the net during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) looks for the puck between the Chicago Blackhawks’ Alex Vlasic (43) and Seth Jones, right, during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia looks over his shoulder for the puck as the Kings’ Adrian Kempe, right, watches during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates after scoring against Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jake McCabe controls the puck against the Kings during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane, right, celebrates his goal with Alex DeBrincat (12) and Taylor Raddysh (11) as the Kings’ Trevor Moore skates past them during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, center, is congratulated for his goal during the second period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Kings center Quinton Byfield, right, looks to pass as Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia protects the near post during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia stops a shot during the second period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Kings center Blake Lizotte (46) collides with left wing Alex Iafallo (19) next to Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty, left, during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia clears the puck between the Kings’ Trevor Moore, right, and Phillip Danault during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Andreas Athanasiou, right, vies for the puck against Chicago Blackhawks center Sam Lafferty during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia and teammate Dominik Kubalik (8) stop a shot by the Kings’ Arthur Kaliyev (34) during the second period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Blackhawks’ Philipp Kurashev, right, plays the puck as he is checked by the Kings’ Carl Grundstrom, center, and Alexander Edler during the third period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou, center, celebrates his goal with Anze Kopitar, left, and Alexander Edler during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Andreas Athanasiou, left, is congratulated after scoring during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou celebrates his goal with the bench during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Kings center Trevor Moore, far right, turns to celebrate after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Trevor Moore, right, celebrates his goal with teammates Viktor Arvidsson, center, and Phillip Danault during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Trevor Moore, center, is hugged by teammates after scoring during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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The Kings’ Trevor Moore (12) celebrates his goal with Viktor Arvidsson (33), Alexander Edler (2) and Phillip Danault, right, during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Kings’ Adrian Kempe skates out with the puck as he is chased by the Chicago Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat, left, and Philipp Kurashev during the third period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Kings’ Sean Durzi, left, celebrates with goaltender Jonathan Quick after their 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES –– With heat at their backs and a less competitive opponent in their faces, the Kings handled their business in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, moving ever closer to securing a playoff berth.
Elsewhere in the Pacific Division, the Calgary Flames won to clinch first place. Second-place Edmonton and fourth-place Vegas were idle Thursday but both prevailed on Wednesday, exerting pressure on the Kings to dispatch the struggling Blackhawks.
The victory stretched the Kings’ advantage over Vegas back to five points and re-established their two-point gap behind Edmonton. The top three teams in the division are guaranteed playoff spots, with the fourth-place finisher left dueling Nashville and Dallas for the Western Conference’s two wild-card berths.
Two Kings victories in their remaining three games would secure a playoff berth that would position them as no worse than the third seed in the division, even if Vegas were to win the four games left on its schedule.
“I’m not going to lie, I came off between the second and third (periods), I wanted to know what the scores were. That’s human nature, that’s how it is,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “We should be getting excited about the opportunity, and the best thing that we have is control.”
Centers Phillip Danault and Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings (42-27-10, 94 points), as did wingers Andreas Athanasiou and Trevor Moore. Defenseman Alex Edler and winger Adrian Kempe added two assists apiece. Jonathan Quick earned his fourth win across a stretch of five consecutive starts, stopping 15 shots.
Winger Patrick Kane tallied for Chicago, which has now won just two of its past 13 games. Rancho Cucamonga native Collin Delia saved 31 of 35 shots before exiting the game in the third period with a lower-body injury and being relieved by Kevin Lankinen.
In the third period, a solitary goal separated the sides until there was 8:15 left, when the Kings scored twice in 15 seconds.
First, Athanasiou added an insurance goal after he stole the puck along the wall and sped ahead for a partial breakaway, which he finished against pressure while deking from forehand to backhand and back to his forehand for a sweep-in goal.
The Kings struck again in transition when Edler broke up a play, sending Moore and Arvidsson ahead with momentum. Arvidsson challenged defenseman Jake McCabe and got Delia to commit to the short side before dishing the puck across to Moore for an uncontested tap-in off his backhand. Delia sustained an injury attempting to dive back into position at the back post. For their part, the Kings could finally coast a bit.
“Whenever you can cushion a lead like that in the third period, it’s huge, and we got two quick ones,” Athanasiou said. “It definitely gave us a little more confidence and just a little bit of safety room.”
With less than five minutes left in the second period, Chicago had cut its deficit to a goal with a power-play score. After some fumbling around in the neutral zone, the Blackhawks executed a tic-tac-toe play between Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat and Kane, whose sharp angle shot banked off Quick’s pad and into the net. The three-time Stanley Cup champion’s 91 points lead the Blackhawks and his 26 goals are second to only DeBrincat.
The Kings challenged the goal for an offside entry unsuccessfully but killed the resulting penalty.
“We had a real good recovery after the goal against, a good penalty kill and then a good two or three minutes to take us to intermission, I think that was a big two or three minutes for our team,” McLellan said.
The Kings had mounted a 21-6 advantage in shots as the midway point of the game approached, but only a one-goal lead. That changed thanks to Kopitar, who won an offensive zone faceoff cleanly and then scored after redirecting Edler’s shot off Delia and into the net. Kopitar’s goal placed him one shy of his 12th 20-goal campaign.
Edler’s sixth multipoint game of the season came on his 36th birthday. McLellan lauded his influence on the team this season, despite Edler missing three months with a broken ankle.
“With the youth we have (on defense) and the pieces that we’re missing, there has to be a father figure, and there’s two of them,” McLellan said. “One stands and one sits, it’s (assistant coach Trent) Yawney and Edler.”
Edler added that he got all he wanted for his birthday with the Kings’ win and another step toward the postseason.
The Kings drew the game’s first penalty but the best chance during their power play came for short-handed Chicago when forward Sam Lafferty’s breakaway was denied by Quick’s pad.
Their second man-advantage effort went swimmingly though, when Kempe’s shot from above the left faceoff circle was deflected by a defender before Danault deftly redirected the wobbling puck off his backhand. The goal was Danault’s 26th, twice as many as he’d scored in any previous NHL season. It extended his point streak to seven games and his goal streak to five, both of which are career bests, with much of that damage done near the net. He is the first Kings player since Marián Gáborík in 2014 to have a goal in five straight games.
“In my three years watching (former Detroit winger) Tomas Holmstrom around the net, his ability to face the other end and still score on the backhand, similar to what Phil did tonight, was eerily similar,” said McLellan, who was an assistant for the Red Wings from 2005 to 2008.
UP NEXT
The Kings host the Ducks on Saturday night.
Todd McLellan talks with the media postgame#GoKingsGo | @LAKings pic.twitter.com/lFM3L9wDVM
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 22, 2022
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 22, 2022
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 22, 2022
Athanasiou, nice to see you.
— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2022
This goal might be too nice for the internet.
Viktor Arvidsson
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 22, 2022
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 22, 2022
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