Kris Versteeg and Milan Lucic scored 18 seconds apart in the first period, and the Los Angeles Kings routed the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 on Monday night in a matchup of Western Conference powers looking for another championship run.
Vincent Lecavalier, Dustin Brown and Tyler Toffoli also scored as Los Angeles improved to 8-2-1 in its last 11 games. Jonathan Quick made 32 saves in his 41st career shutout, helping the Pacific Division leaders kill off each of Chicago's six power-play opportunities.
The Blackhawks (41-23-6) lost for the fourth time in five games, including three in a row against St. Louis, Dallas and Los Angeles - three potential playoff opponents. The defending Stanley Cup champions are just 9-10-2 since their franchise-record 12-game win streak.
The slide has dropped Chicago into third in the tough Central Division with just 12 games left on its schedule.
>>Flames Win in Wild Game Over St. Louis
Michael Frolik scored three times, including two nearly identical short-handed goals, and the Calgary Flames beat St. Louis 7-4 Monday night to stop the Blues' six-game winning streak.
With the Flames' three-goal, third-period lead down to one and the Blues pressing for the equalizer, Frolik sped in alone after a pass from Mark Giordano and fired a quick shot under the crossbar past Anders Nilsson to make it 6-4 at 16:49.
It looked just like Frolik's goal that tied it 2-all late in the first, except it was Mikael Backlund with the breakaway feed and starter Jake Allen in net for St. Louis.
Frolik completed his second career hat trick with an empty-net goal with 35 seconds remaining, sending hats flying onto the ice at the raucous Scotiabank Saddledome.
Sean Monahan had two goals as well, and Joe Colborne and Giordano also scored for Calgary. Dougie Hamilton finished with a career-high three assists, and Johnny Gaudreau also had three helpers.
Paul Stastny scored twice, and Scottie Upshall and Kevin Shattenkirk each had a goal for St. Louis (41-21-9).
The Blues missed a chance to move ahead of Dallas into the top spot in the Central Division. They remained tied in points with Stars, who now hold a game in hand.
