Kings erupt against Buffalo

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 7, 2007 | by Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Dustin Brown had two goals and an assist, defenseman Tom Preissing scored twice on power plays and Michal Handzus had a short-handed goal for Los Angeles on Thursday night.

The Kings, who hadn't scored more than three goals in any of their previous 11 games, had their biggest offensive output since an 8-6 home victory over Atlanta on Jan. 19, 2006.

Derek Armstrong and Jaroslav Modry scored their first goals of the season, Anze Kopitar had a career-high four assists, and Michael Cammalleri had a goal and two assists. Jonathan Quick, pressed into service because of injuries to Jason LaBarbera and Jean-Sebastien Aubin, made 15 saves in his NHL debut.

Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek scored for the Sabres.

CANADIENS 4, BRUINS 2: At Boston, Chris Higgins had a goal and two assists to help Montreal snap a three-game losing streak with its seventh straight victory over Boston. The Canadiens have outscored the Bruins 28-11 during the streak.

MAPLE LEAFS 6, RANGERS 2: At New York, Nik Antropov scored three goals, chasing Henrik Lundqvist and sending Toronto to a season- high fourth straight victory over the slumping New York Rangers. Toronto, which hadn't won more than two in a row before this spurt, beat the Rangers in both road meetings this season -- outscoring them 9-3.

PENGUINS 3, FLAMES 2 (SO): At Calgary, Alberta, defenseman Kris Letang scored in the fourth round of a shootout to lift Pittsburgh in Sidney Crosby's first NHL game in Calgary. Letang ended it after Petr Sykora scored and Crosby and Evgeni Malkin missed. Kristian Huselius scored Calgary's lone goal in the shootout, while Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay and Matthew Lombardi failed to convert their chances.

CANUCKS 5, PREDATORS 2: At Nashville, Daniel Sedin scored two third-period goals, and backup goalie Curtis Sanford made 26 saves for Vancouver. Alex Burrows, Taylor Pyatt and Curtis Sanford made 26 saves.

LIGHTNING 2, HURRICANES 1: At Tampa, Fla., Vincent Lecavalier scored his 19th goal of the season, and Johan Holmqvist made 23 saves for Tampa Bay. Lecavalier opened the scoring with a power- play goal 16 minutes