Quick-starting Kings visit Bruins
BOSTON -- Just about everything is going right for the Los Angeles Kings and new coach John Stevens.
"We enjoy coming to the rink and working," Jonathan Quick said after making 40 saves in a 4-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to lift the Kings to 8-1-1. "We have a great group of guys, so it makes it fun. We keep it light. Guys enjoy pushing each other. So it's something that I've noticed so far in the beginning part of the season here."
The Kings, who visit Boston Saturday already 3-1-0 on a six-game road trip, won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, starting out 6-2-2 in '12 and 6-4-0 in '14.
Now, they have outscored their opposition 36-19. Quick, who pitched a 40-save shutout in his 500th NHL game Thursday, has a 1.88 goals-against average and .944 save percentage -- all this after missing all but eight games last season with a groin injury suffered in the opening game and subsequent surgery.
He did go 6-1-1 in his shortened season, making him 14-2-2 in the last two seasons combined.
"How Quickie hasn't won a Vezina (Trophy as the league's top goalie) blows my mind," teammate Drew Doughty said Thursday.
The University of Massachusetts product is 9-4 with a 1.96 GAA and .931 save percentage against the Bruins, who come into this game off a 2-1 decision over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night and end a four-game homestand Saturday.
Last year, the Kings missed the playoffs as star veteran Anze Kopitar struggled through a 12-goal season. He has seven goals and 12 points in the first 10 games this year, Dustin Brown with five goals and six assists and five players with at least eight points.
Kopitar, the team captain -- a role formerly served by Brown -- had one goal in the first nine games last season.
The Bruins (4-3-1) played a complete game against the Sharks in a very good hockey game Thursday night. Anton Khudobin, playing his third straight game with Tuukka Rask still recovering from a concussion, played well and still hasn't played a game without earning a point (3-0-1).
Rask passed through NHL concussion protocol and was dressed as the backup Thursday -- coach Bruce Cassidy wanting him to get another full day of practice (Friday) before likely returning Saturday.
"They've been a heavy and skilled team for years now, nothing's changed in that regard," said Rask. "They'll be a good challenge, but if we play the same style of hockey as yesterday...I think we'll be all set."
Rask shut the Kings out 1-0 last Dec. 18 and is 3-3 with a 2.26 GAA and .931 save percentage lifetime against the Kings.
Rookie Danton Heinen, recalled from the minor leagues earlier in the day Thursday, scored his first two NHL goals in the narrow win -- and has five points in four games with the Bruins this season.
Heinen became the fourth Bruin to score his first NHL goal in the first eight games of this season.
"I feel like I'm an offensive guy," he said. "I want to contribute. You see everyone scoring their first and you want to get your first as well. It felt like it was never coming, but I'm glad I got it out of the way."
The Bruins, who will again be without the injured David Krejci (also "highly likely" to be out Monday at Columbus, according to coach Bruce Cassidy) swept the two-game series with the Kings last season and are 5-1 in the last six visits by Los Angeles.
