Kings defeat Blackhawks 4-1, move closer to a playoff spot

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Phillip Danault scored for the fifth straight game and the Los Angeles Kings moved closer to wrapping up a playoff spot with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Danault opened the scoring in the first period with his 26th goal of the season. He is the first Kings player since Marián Gáborík in 2014 to have a goal in five straight games.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The center also has a career-best seven-game point streak with five goals and eight points.

Anze Kopitar, Andreas Athanasiou and Trevor Moore also scored for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last five and had a 36-16 advantage in shots. The Kings are five points ahead of Vegas for third place in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has three games remaining, while Vegas has four.

"I thought we had a little more aggressiveness in our game. Then we capitalized on the chances that we had," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "The best thing that we have is control. We’re learning as we go, and that won’t change for nine periods. And then hopefully we get to play many more periods, and we’re gonna learn a lot more about ourselves."

Jonathan Quick made 15 saves, and Adrian Kempe and Alexander Edler each had two assists.

Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault (24) is hugged by teammates after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, which has lost nine of its last 11. It was the 430th career goal for Kane, moving him past Bill Guerin into sixth among U.S.-born skaters in NHL history.

Collin