Richards lifts Kings past Blackhawks in shootout

[March 12, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Mike Richards scored the lone goal in a six-round shutout to give the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Richards beat Ray Emery with a quick wrist shot after Emery stopped the Kings' first five shooters.

Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick stopped all six Chicago shooters after making 35 saves -- including Viktor Stalberg's third-period penalty shot -- through overtime.

Slava Voynov and Jeff Carter scored in regulation for Los Angeles. The Kings ended a two-game losing streak and rebounded from a 4-3 loss in Detroit on Friday night when they gave up two goals in the final 4:02.

Marcus Kruger and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago. Kane tied it at 2 at 7:36 of the third with his fifth goal in seven games.

Kuger's goal with 7:23 left in the second period ended Quick's shutout streak against the Blackhawks at 175:59. Quick shut out Chicago in the previous two meetings.

Emery stopped 27 shots through overtime in his fifth straight start and eighth straight appearance. Corey Crawford, who began the season as the Blackhawks' No. 1 goalie, hasn't played since being pulled after one period Feb. 29 against Toronto.

The Kings dominated early, outshooting the Blackhawks 14-6 through the first half of the opening period. Voynov opened the scoring for Los Angeles just 1:17 in, completing a 4-on-1 break after the Blackhawks were trapped deep in the Kings' zone.

Alone in front of Emery, Voynov ripped in shot from the slot after taking a short feed from Justin Williams. Voynov scored easily after the lone Blackhawk back, defenseman Brent Seabrook, slid on the ice to try to break up the pass.

Quick stopped a close-in attempt by Marian Hossa 5 minutes into the second. Midway through the period, Dave Bolland hit the post with a shot after Quick dove forward and left most of the net open. Kruger then finally broke through against Quick to tie it.

Following a turnover at the Los Angeles blue line, Chicago's Stalberg outbattled the Kings' Matt Greene deep in the zone for a loose puck. He passed to Patrick Sharp, whose shot was blocked by Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty.

The puck popped out to Kruger, who fired in his ninth goal of the season with Quick down. Carter restored Los Angeles' lead at 2-1 just over 5 minutes later.

After Chicago's Duncan Keith lost the puck behind the net, Dwight King passed in front to Carter, who was alone at the edge of the crease. He beat Emery with a low shot.

Quick made diving point-blank glove save on Bolland's shot from the low edge of the right circle just over 3 minutes into the third.

Quick then came up with a pad save on Stalberg on a penalty shot at 6:28 of the second. Stalberg was awarded the attempt after being pulled down by Rob Scuderi on a breakaway.

Kane tied it at 2 at 7:36. Quick stopped Hossa when he plowed to the net from the right corner, but Kane jammed the rebound in between Quick's pads.

Emery made a point-blank save on Dustin Brown 1:30 into overtime.

NOTES: Chicago C Jonathan Toews missed his 10th game because of an upper-body injury, believed to be a concussion. Toews has resumed skating without contact. Before Kruger scored Sunday, Toews was the last Blackhawk to score against Quick, with 3:22 remaining in the second period of Chicago's 2-1 win on Nov. 26. ... Chicago D Steve Montador missed his 16th game with an undisclosed upper-body injury, and D Sami Lepisto missed his second with a leg injury. ... Los Angeles completed a four-game trip, going 2-2. The Kings also finished a 10-game stretch where they played eight games on the road, going 4-4-1.

[Associated Press]

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