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Iginla scores 625th career goal, Quick makes 35 saves as Kings blank Canucks

Iginla, Quick lead Kings over Canucks

VANCOUVER — Jarome Iginla thought he tied one of his heroes on the NHL's all-time goals list earlier this week.

His math was a little off, but the veteran winger only had to wait a couple more days to reach the milestone.

Iginla scored the 625th goal of his career to match Joe Sakic for 15th all-time, and Jonathan Quick made 35 saves for his second shutout of the season Friday as the Los Angeles Kings blanked the Vancouver Canucks 2-0.

The 39-year-old Iginla was under the impression his winner in Wednesday's 4-1 victory against the Flames in Calgary, where he played from 1996 to 2013, put him on par with Sakic before realizing he was still one short.

"I jumped the gun," said Iginla. "That (puck), I will be keeping. I know what a great player he was and what a great person."

Tyler Toffoli also scored for Los Angeles (37-33-7), which is clinging to minuscule playoff hopes and now sits eight points back of the Nashville Predators for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles and Nashville each have five games remaining on the schedule.

"We have to make sure we do our part," said Iginla, now at 1,299 points for his career. "Nobody is quitting."

Ryan Miller made 24 stops for Vancouver (30-38-9), which was eliminated from post-season contention last week and was shut out for the 10th time this season.

The Canucks were awful in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, but managed to bounce back with an improved effort against the Kings.

"We played a better game," said Miller. "We were engaged a little bit more.

"Just a couple mistakes ... and we end up chasing."

Iginla broke a scoreless tie on the power play at 12:48 of the second period by deflecting an Alec Martinez shot past Miller for his 14th of the season and third goal in as many games.

"To be able to tie Joe Sakic, that one is definitely very special to me," said Iginla, who notched his fourth game winner of the season and the 101st of his career. "I got to play with him at the Olympics, play with him at the World Cup.

"He's a guy I looked up to growing up and I got to be on his line and watch him do his thing. It was pretty cool. I've been very blessed. It's awesome to get there."

Acquired from Colorado prior to the NHL trade deadline, Iginla has six goals in 14 games with Los Angeles after scoring just eight times in 61 contests with the Avalanche.

"I'm getting a great opportunity," said Iginla, who wouldn't bite when asked if he had played his last game in Vancouver. "Even though we are chasing, each game is meaningful and intense."

Toffoli doubled the Kings' lead at 16:38 on a 3-on-2 rush, beating Miller high over the blocker with a perfect shot off the crossbar and in for his 19th.

The Canucks — now 2-8-2 over their last 12 games — had a great chance to jump in front less than two minutes into the second on the power play, but rookie forward Brock Boeser, who came in with two goals in his first three NHL games, missed a wide open net.

Quick, who sat out 59 games with a groin injury earlier this season, picked up the 44th shutout of his career after going 4-4-0 over his last nine starts, with 16 goals against over that span.

The Kings goalie made a nice pad save on Canucks defenceman Luca Sbisa from the slot about five minutes into the third.

Miller kept the Canucks in it midway through the period when he stopped Adrian Kempe all alone in front on a 2-on-1 break before Quick stoned Daniel Sedin moments later.

"Quick was really good tonight," said Sedin. "We had our chances to score, but it doesn't really help us.

"We've got to put some in the back of the net to win these kinds of games."

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press