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Blackhawks move into tie for West's top spot after blanking Kings

Thu 18th, March 2010

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Tomas Kopecky scored a pair of third period goals to lift Chicago to a 3-0 win over Los Angeles at Staples Center.

Blackhawks rookie goaltender Antti Niemi needed to make just 17 saves to record his fifth career shutout.

Troy Brouwer added his 20th goal of the season for Central Division-leading Chicago, which holds an 11-point lead over second-place Nashville.

The Blackhawks also moved into a tie with San Jose for the top spot in the Western Conference with 96 points.

Jonathan Quick made 34 saves on 37 shots for the Kings, who have dropped five of their last seven games. Los Angeles is tied with the Predators for sixth in the playoff standings.

"We have to learn from our mistakes, and carry forth. We just have to hit the reset button," said Kings forward Ryan Smyth.

Brouwer crashed the crease to put Chicago on the board at the 11:36 mark of the second period.

Kopecky pushed the puck down the left side and fired a low wrister that beat Quick inside the far post 2:48 into the third. The Slovakian forward converted a turnover from Los Angeles defenseman Jack Johnson to make it 3-0 at 6:08.

"I thought we checked well and I thought everybody was contributing to what we wanted to do tonight," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "(Kopecky) gets big goals in the third. But across the board, we liked how we played."

Game Notes

Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook missed the game with a head injury as the result of a hit by Anaheim's James Wisniewski during Wednesday's loss to the Ducks. The league suspended Wisniewski eight games on Thursday...The Blackhawks were not whistled for a minor penalty against LA...The Blackhawks took three of the four meetings with Los Angeles this season...Chicago snapped a three-game winless streak...The Kings had won three straight over Chicago at Staples Center.