Kings Extinguish Flames in 8-2 Victory

The Los Angeles Kings needed a win Monday night against the Calgary Flames to take possession of first in the Pacific Division. 

And they more than delivered, beating the Flames 8-2.

Kings Offense Erupts in Period One:

The Kings weren't going to get goalie'd on Monday. 

After just two goals on 40 shots Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings netted four goals on just 13 shots in the first period against the Flames.

The red hot fourth line opened the scoring. Zack MacEwen fed Rasmus Kupari in front and the puck bounced off Kupari's stick right to Carl Grundstrom in front. Grundstrom then pulled the puck to his backhand and beat Jakub Markstrom.

Just two minutes later, Quinton Byfield forced a turnover on the forecheck and fed Drew Doughty at the point. Doughty walked to the top of the right circle and sent a wrist shot over a screened Markstrom and in.

The Kings piled it on, with Gabe Vilardi finishing in the slot after Blake Lizotte forced a turnover down low. 

Viktor Arvidsson then got on the board, one-timing an Adrian Kempe feed home on the power play.

The Kings finished the period outshooting the Flames 14-3.

Kings Continue to Dominate

The Flames grabbed some life early, with Tyler Toffoli scoring 34 seconds into the period and a power play shortly after. 

The Kings killed that penalty off and picked up where they left off in the first.

The grabbed a hold of the play again and dominated possession.

Eight minutes in, Alex Edler hit Kempe with a stretch pass after Kempe jumped on the ice, sending Kempe on a breakaway.

Kempe fought off the Flames defensemen and beat Markstrom through the body for his 33rd of the season.

Just a few minutes later, Kempe buried his second of the night. 

Coming down the wing on a rush, Kempe shot the puck through the Flames defensemen and beat Markstrom over the shoulder.

The shot totals were closer in the second, with the Kings outshooting the Flames 12-9.

But the Kings had the majority of chances and a five goal lead heading into the third.

Scoring Continues Into the Third:

After six goals through two periods, Markstrom's night was over and Dan Vladar came in for relief.

The third period started out a little slower than the first two, but kicked into gear in the second half.

Noah Hannifin brought the Flames back within four, burying in front for his sixth of the season.

The Kings do have a potential injury on their hands.

Halfway through the period, Vilardi crashed into the boards hard after a hit from Hanifin and was slow to get up. 

There was no update on Vilardi's health after the game, but he did not return.

After Kempe and Nazem Kadri got into an altercation at center ice, Nikita Zadorov cross checked Quinton Byfield, earning the Russian defensemen a ten minute misconduct, ending his night early.

After the commotion, the Kings ended up on a full two-minute five-on-three.

Todd McLellan rewarded his fourth line, starting them on the power play.

MacEwen took a penalty just over 30 seconds into the man advantage.

On the ensuing four-on-three, Phil Danault fed Mikey Anderson at the top of the right circle. And Anderson wired a wrist shot over Vladar's shoulder to put the Kings up 7-2.

The Kings then extended their lead to 8-2 and it was the fourth line again.

Kupari and Grundstrom found themselves on a two-on-one, where Kupari feathered a saucer pass over to Grundstrom, who beat Vladar over the shoulder shortside.

It's the fourth goal in three games for Grundstrom and the third straight goal from that line which reads Grundstrom from Kupari.

The Kings have a scheduled day off tomorrow and don't play again until Saturday.