Los Angeles Kings rise above playoff line shutting out Calgary Flames 3-0 -NHL Update
Los Angeles knew that giving up a single goal during any matchup nowadays can cost them a playoff spot, so the Kings worked on shutting out the competition and succeeded against Calgary Flames, 3-0, Wednesday night, March 28, 2012, at the sold-out Scotiabank
Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Kings are now above the playoff line with 88 points, tied with eighth place San Jose Sharks and only a point above ninth spot Phoenix Coyotes.
Calgary Flames still have a chance to make it back in time as they sit at number 11 with 85 points with four games remaining on their 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) schedule.
Willie Mitchell inaugurated the scoring with his fifth of the season at 5:30 into the opening period. Dustin Brown extended the lead at nearly the same time in the second round followed by Justin Williams insurance shot with 1:09 remaining in regulation
on a breakaway.
Jonathan Quick had it easy in front of the net as he had to face only 19 shots with the Los Angeles defenseman working effectively to block the attempts.
Miikka Kiprusoff on the other hand, dealt 29 and fell short on two of those before being pulled out in the final two minutes giving Calgary the extra shooter.
Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks, both teams which are also contenders in the heated race for the playoffs in the Western Conference, go head-to-head on Thursday, making it an exciting matchup to see who takes the two points to move up.
Coyotes could be throwing both San Jose and Los Angeles down if they manage to take the two points and the lead.
Los Angeles will definitely be hoping for Sharks to win, which would keep them above Phoenix at number-eight.
Kings have two more on the road before returning home and both have Los Angeles as the favourite team going in. The next is against Edmonton Oilers on Friday, followed by Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Calgary on the other hand, also has a chance to move up and keep a team at bay as Flames face Colorado Avalanche at home on Friday.
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