LOS ANGELES — Captain Dustin Brown had three goals and an assist, and the Los Angeles Kings roared to an early five-goal lead while inching closer to their first playoff berth since 2002 with an 8-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who have won two straight after a four-game winless streak endangered their playoff position.
With seven goals on their first 23 shots against goalie Roberto Luongo, the Kings burst from an offensive slump with their highest-scoring performance of the season.
Los Angeles is seventh in the Western Conference with 94 points, five ahead of eighth-place Colorado.
Vancouver left wing Daniel Sedin sat out because of back spasms. He had played in every game since Nov. 22 alongside his brother, NHL scoring leader Henrik Sedin.
Pavol Demitra replaced Sedin in Vancouver’s lineup. Demitra missed the Canucks’ last four games to spend time with his ailing wife.
