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BOX SCORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The NHL's two highest-scoring teams nearly
came up empty in a game that had more defense than offense.
The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver were unexpectedly scoreless
through two periods, although Canucks goalie Felix Potvin was
decidedly busier than Los Angeles counterpart Jamie Storr.
|  | | Vancouver's Steve Kariya was held pointless and shotless Thursday vs. the Kings. |
Jozef Stumpel snapped the scoreless tie with a back-handed goal
in the third period as the Kings defeated the Canucks 2-0 Thursday
night to extend their unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1).
"It's as gratifying a win as I've had since we've been here
because of ... what we've gone through and our schedule to this
point," second-year Kings coach Andy Murray said.
Storr, who saved 25 shots, ran his unbeaten streak to five
games. He earned his first shutout of the season and eighth of his
career.
"It's been the same for the last 3{ weeks. I hope it doesn't
change," he said. "It's about being consistent night after
night."
Stumpel was being checked in front of the net by Scott Lachance
when his back-handed tip deflected through Potvin's pads at 5:18 of
the third. Stumpel has goals in six of his last nine games.
"We had to get the puck behind him (Potvin) and we finally got
a tip," Stumpel said.
Ziggy Palffy scored the Kings' second goal and his ninth of the
season at 8:55 of the second. With Lachance trailing him, Palffy
beat Potvin stickside off a pass across the goal mouth from Kelly
Buchberger.
"I might have been a little too far out," Potvin said. "I
just tried to get across as quick as I could, but Palffy is a
pretty good goal-scorer and he doesn't miss too many of those."
Potvin stopped 28 shots as Vancouver was shut out for the first
time this season.
"He was the only reason we were in the game at all," Vancouver
coach Marc Crawford said. "He made several outstanding saves. It
was unfortunate that we didn't play a little bit better for him."
The Canucks couldn't find the net one night after scoring seven
goals in a victory at Anaheim. Their first shot in the third period
didn't come until there was 9:30 remaining, when Storr stopped a
35-foot wrist shot from the right boards by Trent Klatt.
"You would think we would have been buoyed by our production
last night and the way we skated," Crawford said. "In the first
period, we looked like we were skating a little bit better. But
when it came down to being determined for loose pucks and being
determined to fight through the tight checking, we weren't."
Both teams were facing a scoreless tie until the third period.
"I watch them on TV, but I've never had one," Storr said of a
no-goals game. "I thought, `Geez, this would be nice.'"
Los Angeles, which leads the NHL with 62 goals, had three solid
chances in the second period, including one by Rob Blake with eight
seconds remaining. His shot hit the right post and deflected into
Potvin's body. Potvin stretched out his left arm to make the save.
Game notes
Storr's eighth shutout tied Mario Lessard for fourth career
among Kings' goalies. ... Los Angeles is undefeated in its last 10
home games with Vancouver, going 8-0-2. ... Kings TV play-by-play
announcer Bob Miller will be honored at the Hockey Hall of Fame in
Toronto on Monday. He'll receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial award
for outstanding contributions during his career. Miller, in his
28th season with the Kings, has broadcast more than 2,300 games.
... Rob Blake has the most career goals (27) and points (397) by a
Kings defenseman. ... Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the identical twins
who play for Vancouver, have each scored three goals this season.
Daniel has six assists and Henrik has four.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Vancouver Clubhouse
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Keenan tabs Allison as Bruins' 16th team captain
RECAPS
Boston 2
Ottawa 1
Buffalo 3
NY Islanders 0
Columbus 5
San Jose 2
Philadelphia 2
Edmonton 0
NY Rangers 5
Washington 3
St. Louis 3
Colorado 3
Los Angeles 2
Vancouver 0
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