NHL: Jonathan Quick inspires Los Angeles Kings, Ducks shutout Blues

Quick stifled the visiting Wild, making 40 saves at Staples Center to guide Los Angeles to a fourth consecutive win.

The Kings hit the front courtesy of Tyler Toffoli, who opened the scoring on a power play with six minutes remaining in the first period.

After the puck hit Ryan Suter's skate and fell to Toffoli, the winger flicked it past Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom as the Wild conceded a power-play goal for the first time this season.

Tanner Pearson doubled the Kings' lead three minutes into the third and final period, picked out by Toffoli to score.

Quick was denied a shutout following Matt Cooke's backhand less than four minutes later.

"We were able to clear out some rebounds, block some shots and just kind of got through it," said Cooke.

The Kings - 4-1-1 - are second in the Western Conference Pacific division, while the Wild are fifth in Central.

Ahead of the Kings are the Anaheim Ducks, who shutout the St Louis Blues for a 3-0 win.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen staked his claim to be Anaheim's number one, saving 28 shots in his maiden career shutout.

"I knew I didn't have one. That's something you remember, obviously," Andersen said post-game.

"It's like the players when they get their first goal, they'll remember that forever."

Sami Vatanen scored via two power-play goals, while Matt Beleskey sent a slap shot past Blues goalie Brian Elliot in the opening stanza.

Elsewhere, the New York Rangers crushed the San Jose Sharks 4-0 for back-to-back wins.

Another goaltender made a solid contribution, with Rangers keeper Henrik Lundqvist blocking 33 shots.

Carl Hagelin, Martin St Louis, Rick Nash and Kevin Hayes were on the board for the Rangers, who are sixth in the Eastern Conference Metropolitan division.

St Louis, meanwhile, are fourth in the Western Conference Central division.

The Calgary Flames condemned the Winnipeg Jets to a fourth consecutive defeat by winning 4-1.