CHICAGO -- Kris Versteeg and Milan Lucic scored 18 seconds apart in the first period, and the Los Angeles Kings routed the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 on Monday night in a matchup of Western Conference powers looking for another championship run.
Vincent Lecavalier, Dustin Brown and Tyler Toffoli also scored as Los Angeles improved to 8-2-1 in its last 11 games. Jonathan Quick made 32 saves in his 41st career shutout, helping the Pacific Division leaders kill off each of Chicago's six power-play opportunities.
The Blackhawks (41-23-6) lost for the fourth time in five games, including three in a row against St. Louis, Dallas and Los Angeles -- three potential playoff opponents. The defending Stanley Cup champions are just 9-10-2 since their franchise-record 12-game win streak.
The slide has dropped Chicago into third in the tough Central Division with just 12 games left on its schedule (see full recap).
Big 3rd period gives Islanders win
NEW YORK -- Cal Clutterbuck scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:39 remaining to cap New York's three-goal third period, lifting the Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night.
Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey scored earlier in the third as the Islanders scored all their goals in a 5 1/2-minute stretch after trailing 2-0 heading to the final period. Thomas Greiss finished with 23 saves as the Islanders snapped a two-game skid and pulled one point behind the crosstown-rival Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist, Nick Bjugstad also scored and Jonathan Huberdeau had two assists for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo stopped 25 shots (see full recap).
NHL
Predators ride Neal hat trick to victory
EDMONTON, Alberta -- James Neal had his sixth career hat trick, scoring all three goals for the Nashville Predators in their 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.
The Predators have earned at least a point in 15 of their last 16 games. They swept the three-game season series from Edmonton.
Jordan Eberle and Iiro Pakarinen scored for the Oilers.
Edmonton got on the board first 7 minutes in when Connor McDavid picked off a pass at the blue line and sent it in front to Eberle for a tap-in past Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. The Oilers had failed to score in their previous two home games.
Just more than a minute later, the Predators responded as Neal came in on a breakaway and calmly sent his 24th goal of the season through the legs of Laurent Brossoit (see full recap).