Kings blank Canucks, trim wild-card deficit to 1 point

Eight players tallied at least one point for the Los Angeles Kings, who dominated the host Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Thursday night.

Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore each had a goal and an assist, Scott Laughton and Artemi Panarin both scored a goal and Mikey Anderson tallied two assists for the Kings (29-25-18, 76 points), who snapped a four-game skid (0-1-3).

The Kings are in fourth place in the Pacific Division and one point out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff race. In the wild-card race, they trail the Nashville Predators, who lost to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves for his third shutout of the season.

Kevin Lankinen made 34 saves for the Canucks (21-42-8, 50 points), who have lost four straight games in regulation. Vancouver was officially eliminated from playoff contention Sunday.

Laughton got credit for the Kings' opening power-play goal when Byfield's shot through traffic deflected off the center's leg. The goal put Los Angeles up 1-0 at 17:34 of the first period.

Los Angeles outshot Vancouver 15-7 in the first frame thanks in part to two power-play opportunities.

Moore extended the Kings' lead to 2-0 at 1:21 of the second period. Anderson's shot was redirected through traffic to Moore, who tipped the puck over Lankinen's extended leg.

Panarin made it 3-0 with 24 seconds left in the second frame with a backhanded shot that bounced off Lankinen's short side and hit the back of the net.

The Kings outshot the Canucks 17-5 in the second 20 minutes. Vancouver was held to just two shots on goal for most of the period, and generated just one shot on a power play at 11:24.

Byfield scored into an empty net at 17:36 of the third period.

Los Angeles is 2-0 against Vancouver this season, with two more matchups coming in April.

The Kings return home for a seven-game homestand, beginning Saturday against the Utah Mammoth. The Canucks embark on a four-game road trip, starting with a visit to Calgary to face the Flames on Saturday.