Petersen sharp in return to net, Kings blank Red Wings 4-0

Updated Jan. 9, 2022 1:39 a.m. ET
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cal Petersen stopped all 21 shots he faced in his first start in more than a month, Phillip Danault and Drew Doughty scored in the first period, and the Los Angeles Kings rolled to a 4-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

Adrian Kempe scored short-handed, Trevor Moore added an empty-net goal and the Kings won for the third time in four games.

Alex Nedeljkovic allowed three goals on 40 shots for the Red Wings, who have lost four in a row on the road.

Petersen was solid despite rarely being challenged in his first game since allowing four goals in a Dec. 6 loss at Vancouver. Jonathan Quick had reasserted claim to the starting job, and a stint in COVID-19 protocol last month kept Petersen off the ice. But he again looked like the future in net for Los Angeles, posting his second career shutout.

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Los Angeles dominated the first period, taking a 2-0 lead while outshooting Detroit 27-2. The shot total matched the franchise record for any period, which was set on Jan. 7, 2010, also against the Red Wings.

Danault put the Kings ahead 6:27 into the game, chipping in a rebound by Arthur Kaliyev for his sixth goal just after a power play expired.

Doughty extended the advantage at 9:06, burying a slap shot through traffic for his fourth goal. He has one goal and three assists during a three-game point streak.

Kempe scored his team-leading 15th short-handed late in the second period, putting the Kings up 3-0.

There was a considerably stronger showing on special teams after coach Todd McLellan called out that part of Los Angeles’ game following a frustrating 4-2 loss to Nashville in which the Kings controlled the even-strength play. They killed off both penalties after conceding a power-play goal in four straight games coming out of the Christmas break.

NOTES: Los Angeles has scored four short-handed goals. Kempe has two of them, Moore and Blake Lizotte have the others. … Kings F Dustin Brown had two assists. … Kings D Olli Maatta played for the first time since Dec. 19 at Washington after being on the COVID-19 list. … Red Wings D Filip Hronek played in his 200th career game.

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Kings: Host the New York Rangers on Monday night.

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