LOS ANGELES – Jonathan Quick recorded his 40th career shutout and Tyler Toffoli scored a hat trick as the Los Angeles Kings crushed the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 at Rogers Arena on Monday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Watch out world, Tyler Toffoli is quickly ascending the ranks as one of the NHL's elite goal scorers.
The 23-year-old surpassed his career high in goals (17) with a hat trick on Monday night in the Kings victory over Vancouver.
The Kings were without their leading goal scorer, Jeff Carter, for the first time all season, but clearly had no problems finding the back of the net as they beat Jacob Markstrom five times on the night.
Two nights after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Arizona Coyotes, Anze Kopitar had four assists as Brayden McNabb and Derek Forbort also scored for Los Angeles.
"Obviously when a guy like Carter goes down, everybody has to come together and step up," Kopitar said. "It's not only one guy that is going to carry his load, because those are obviously big shoes to fill."
Forbort's goal was his first career NHL goal and it came at the 1:57 mark in the second period.
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Toffoli's hat trick was the second of his career and ties him with Carter for the team lead in points at 28.
"That's just what we take pride in as a team, for everybody to contribute and all find a way to score goals and make plays and just get us some momentum," Toffoli said.
Toffoli's scoring spree was overshadowed by goalie Jonathan Quick's 40th career shutout. The netminder made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season. Quick tied John Vanbiesbrouck and Frank Brimsek for most shutouts by an American goalie in NHL history.
TURNING POINT
Brayden McNabb set the tone in the first minute of the game with a devastating hit on Cancuks captain Henrick Sedin. The check led to a fight, which set the tone for the Kings who scored early and never let up.
Brayden McNabb elbows Henrik Sedin in the head in the first minute in the game. Absolute scum. pic.twitter.com/DPcNjZ0ecg — CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) December 29, 2015
MVP OF THE GAME
Tyler Toffoli. In actuality, it should be a three-way tie between Toffoli, Kopitar and Quick, but a hat trick deserves the MVP of the game honors.
Hats off pic.twitter.com/puLf5q8T29 — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 29, 2015
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Jonathan Quick tied Frank Brimsek and John Banbiesbrouck with 40 career shutouts the most by an American goalie in NHL history.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Property tax pic.twitter.com/8HTEM92DM8 — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 29, 2015
Those tax hikes can be alarming.
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
:/ pic.twitter.com/sjfE4rVb4B — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 29, 2015
Oh, Canada.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Right from the start we wanted to get the first goal and get lots of shots on net. We got a couple of good bounces and capitalized."
NOTES
Jeff Carter missed the game with an upper body injury. Derek Forbort's second period goal was the first of his career. Tyler Toffoli's hat trick was the first of the season, second of his career. The Kings have won two consecutive road games.
RECORD
Los Angeles Kings (22-11-2, 46 points) 1st in the Pacific Division.
Vancouver Canucks (14-15-9, 37 points) 3rd in the Pacific Division
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Kings continue their tour of Canada as they fly to Edmonton to take on the Oilers on the second night of a back-to-back Tuesday night.
Vancouver host the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night as the Quack-Attack try to climb out of the Pacific Division cellar.
