LOS ANGELES – Kyle Clifford had a goal and an assist, Jonathan Quick made 27 saves, and the Los Angeles Kings rolled into their All-Star break with a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.
Trevor Lewis scored on a penalty shot and Jack Johnson scored during a two-man advantage for the Kings, who moved even with San Jose atop the Pacific Division after earning a point for the 16th time in 18 games.
Quick headed to his first All-Star game appearance in style, shutting down the Senators' powerful lineup until captain Daniel Alfredsson's power-play goal with 11:23 to play. His teammates had already built a four-goal lead and chased Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson by breaking out of the latest scoring slump for the NHL's lowest-scoring team.
Anderson stopped 22 shots before Alex Auld replaced him to start the third period for the Senators, who lost on both of their Southern California stops during their six-game stretch away from Scotiabank Place, the site of this week's NHL All-Star festivities.
Alfredsson scored his second goal in eight games for the Senators, who wrap up their pre-break schedule Tuesday at Phoenix. Ottawa still has won 10 of 14 games since shortly after Christmas.
Willie Mitchell scored Los Angeles' first goal in the clubs' only meeting of the season. Drew Doughty and Colin Fraser had two assists apiece in the Kings' final game before an eight-day break for the All-Star weekend.
Los Angeles has climbed in the standings despite managing just five regulation goals in its previous four games. Even after scoring four against Ottawa, the Kings are still last overall in the NHL with 111 goals.
Mitchell scored his third goal of the season on a long, fluttering shot that beat Anderson to the far side of his net. Los Angeles nearly added another in the first period, but Doughty's tip in front trickled between Anderson's legs an instant after the buzzer sounded.
Clifford then scored midway through the second period on a rebound out of a goal-mouth scramble that started with his own shot, beating Anderson for the third goal of the season for the Kings' leader in penalty minutes. Clifford got his second multipoint game of the month and his career — and the goal completed his Gordie Howe hat trick after an early fight with Zenon Konopka and an assist.
Johnson connected with a hard shot late in a 72-second stretch of 5-on-3 advantage, matching his career high with his eighth goal.
Lewis then was awarded a penalty shot when the referee apparently thought Ottawa's Chris Phillips closed his hand on the puck in the crease. Replays didn't show the alleged infraction, but Lewis scored his second goal in 40 games this season.
Alfredsson broke up Quick's bid for his NHL-leading seventh shutout.
NOTES: Jason Spezza, Ottawa's leading scorer, was hit in the head by an errant puck during pregame warmups. Spezza left the ice but returned for the game, relieving hometown fans who expect him in the lineup for the All-Star game. ... Anderson yielded more than two goals for the first time in eight starts. ... Kings F Justin Williams extended his point streak to eight games with a second-period assist. ... Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams attended the game.
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