Quick, Kings Stay Perfect At Home With 1-0 Win Over Tampa Bay

          LOS ANGELES (AP)— Jonathan Quick made 24 saves in his ninth career shutout, Justin Williams scored with 14:40 to play and the Los Angeles Kings remained unbeaten at home with a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

With a tight-checking, short-tempered win over Tampa Bay, the Kings remained atop the overall NHL standings with their ninth win in 12 games to open the season, including five victories at Staples Center.

Los Angeles also beat the Lightning at home for just the second time in franchise history.

After two scoreless periods, Tampa Bay defenseman Mathieu Roy's outlet pass deflected to Ryan Smyth, who made a quick backhand pass. Williams had trouble controlling the puck and did a full spin in front of Lightning goalie Mike Smith before scoring in his fourth consecutive game.

Smith stopped 25 shots in his first defeat of the season, losing to Los Angeles for the first time in his career. The Lightning have managed just five goals in the first three stops of their four-game road trip, which included a 3-2 loss at Anaheim one night earlier. Philadelphia passed Tampa Bay atop the Eastern Conference standings earlier Thursday.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty returned from a six-game absence with an apparent concussion. The 20-year-old Norris Trophy finalist flattened Tampa Bay forward Steve Downie with a check from behind with 13 1/2 minutes to play.

Downie then attempted to fight Doughty with 6:59 left, but instead fought Willie Mitchell—and Downie drew an additional misconduct penalty for continuing to scrap after linesmen separated the two.

In their return from a four-day break, the Kings thrived in a defense-dominated meeting with another surprising young team. Quick hadn't lost his focus during the recess, finishing his first shutout of the season with six saves in the third period.

Although their trips have been infrequent, the Lightning had been improbably successful in Los Angeles, going 10-1-2 in franchise history heading into this trip. Tampa Bay hadn't lost here since before Staples Center was even built—on Nov. 6, 1997, at the Great Western Forum.

Scott Parse also returned for Los Angeles after being out since the first preseason game with a groin injury. Coach Terry Murray put him in a major role, skating on the right side of his top line with captain Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar.

Mattias Ohlund gave the Kings a five-minute power play after driving Brown face-first into the board midway through the first period, but Los Angeles managed just two shots. Kopitar then had a breakaway opportunity midway through the second period, but Smith stopped him.

Notes: Wayne Gretzky watched the game from a seat near the glass.