CALGARY — Trevor Lewis’ first goal of the season was the go-ahead goal Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Kings swept back-to-back games in Alberta with a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Lewis had gone 13 games without a point before picking up two assists Tuesday night in the Kings’ 3-1 win over Edmonton.
His game-winning goal came at 15:20 of the first period on a play in which the 26-year-old showed great poise. Lewis collected a rebound at the side of the night, paused briefly, then zipped a shot into the top corner over Flames goaltender Joey MacDonald’s shoulder for his first goal in 31 games dating back to last season.
That would be all the offence Jonathan Bernier would need. With Jonathan Quick getting the night off after beating the Oilers, the Kings’ backup goalie made 26 stops to improve to 3-1-0.
Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter also scored for Los Angeles (7-6-2). The defending Stanley Cup champions wrap up a gruelling stretch in which they played eight-of-nine games on the road.
T.J. Brodie scored the lone goal for Calgary (5-7-3). The Flames have two days off before returning to action Saturday against Minnesota.
Through two periods, Jarome Iginla was the most dangerous Flames shooter with seven of the club’s 15 shots.
While unable to solve Bernier, the Flames captain did make a nice set-up on Brodie’s tying goal at 14:51 of the first, finding him sneaking in from the blue-line where the defenceman wove his way through the slot and put quick shot inside the goal post.
The game was tied for just 29 seconds before Lewis put the Kings ahead for good.
Los Angeles added an insurance goal halfway through the third period when Mike Richards wheeled out of the corner and found Carter in the slot, where he zipped a shot through the pads of MacDonald to make it 3-1.
It was Carter’s team-leading eighth goal, all coming in the past 13 games.
With Miikka Kiprusoff (knee) missing his eighth game, MacDonald made his second start and first at home since being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings. He had 30 saves in seeing his record fall to 1-2-0.
MacDonald was in good form in the second period as the Kings outshot Calgary 12-7 but couldn’t build on their 2-1 lead. During a power play, he kicked out a pad to deny Jarrett Stoll. Later in the period, he made a toe save off Anze Kopitar.
MacDonald finished the game with 30 saves.
Los Angeles was playing its second game in as many nights but it did not look tired as they went on the attack from the opening faceoff. When Brown fired a shot into the top corner at 6:15, giving the Kings a 1-0 lead, the visitors were up 7-1 on the shot clock.
Calgary entered the night with the NHL’s third-ranked power play, but it was unable to capitalize on four opportunities.
In what could have been a key moment in the game, the Flames went on the man advantage in the opening minute of the third period, but they failed to produce a shot to the disappointment of the sellout Scotiabank Saddledome crowd of 19,289.
The Kings went 0 for 1 with the extra man.