LOS ANGELES -- Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings have returned from the Olympic break with a revitalized game and a sharpened playoff focus. The Carolina Hurricanes have neither, and they realize theyre running out of time to get it. Alec Martinez scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play with 11:45 to play, Quick made 24 saves, and the Kings beat the Hurricanes 3-1 Saturday for their third victory in four days since the break. Mike Richards scored his second goal since late November and Justin Williams added an empty-net goal for Los Angeles, which has roared out of the break with three wins in three cities in about 70 hours. The low-scoring Kings put up eight goals at Colorado and Calgary before holding off Carolina in their return to Staples Center. After five scoreless power plays in the first two periods, the Kings finally converted on their sixth. Captain Dustin Brown got the puck behind the Carolina net and fed it to Martinez, who blasted a shot from the slot for his first goal since Jan. 9. "Its no secret we werent happy with our game before the break started," Martinez said. "We worked on a lot of things, and we knew that when we came back, this would be crunch-time, playoff hockey." After two straight trips to the Western Conference finals and a Stanley Cup championship in 2012, the Kings know a few things about post-season grit -- and they know theyll need it just to reach the playoffs this time. Los Angeles had a 1-8-1 stretch shortly before the Olympic break, falling back to the pack in the conference playoff race. The Kings are thoroughly revived after their time off and an eventful Olympics, which included gold medals for Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter along with two surprising victories for Slovenia and Anze Kopitar. The rest of the Kings got several days off and several more days of practice, and both appear to be paying off. "Weve got to bring our best every night right now," Quick said. The Kings have won four straight overall, and Quick appears to be in top form after starting for the U.S. Olympic team in Sochi. He followed up his shutout of the Flames on Thursday with another strong performance against the Canes, including a handful of spectacular saves over the final two periods. Andrej Sekera scored and Anton Khudobin stopped 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight on their five-game road trip out of the break. Carolina has lost four straight overall, and the Hurricanes must visit NHL-leading Anaheim and powerful San Jose over the next three days. "We didnt have a lot of good scoring chances, but the ones we did, we didnt capitalize on them," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "Weve played nine periods now (since the break), and I think were happy with seven of the nine, but we havent gotten any points. Were playing hard and playing well defensively, but were not generating the offence we need to get ahead in these games." Carolina played without forward Alexander Semin, who was scratched with a lower-body injury. The Russian Olympian was hurt Thursday at Dallas, but might return Sunday in Anaheim. "Hes one of our best players, so it hurts having him out," Carolina centre Riley Nash said. "But guys have to fill (the void)." Los Angeles had a fruitless 4-on-3 advantage for 1:09 during the first period, but went ahead in the final minute on a sharp-angled shot by Richards, the veteran centre whose scoring touch has deserted him this season. The goal was his first in 13 games since Jan. 18 and just his second in 37 games since Nov. 25. The Hurricanes tied it up just 41 seconds later on a goal by Sekera. The Slovak Olympians floating shot banked off Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr and beat Quick with 15 seconds left in the first. "We played well and didnt give them a whole lot," Nash said. "It just seems like were finding ways not to win games and not to get points." NOTES: Carolina visited Staples Center for the first time since Oct. 21, 2010. ... Carolina D Jay Harrison was a healthy scratch. He had played in 13 straight games. ... Los Angeles scratched C Jordan Nolan and dressed young F Tanner Pearson for his 10th career NHL game. ... Wayne Gretzky watched from a seat on the glass. Dalton Pompey Jersey .J. -- Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils took a lot of grief considering his scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds into a crucial game against the Florida Panthers. Jesse Barfield Blue Jays Jersey .com) - Novak Djokovic easily took care of Andy Murray to reach the final at the $2. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-...chez-jersey/.ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Dalton Pompey Blue Jays Jersey . Englands only win in the four most recent trips north had been tight, and Scotland was expected after losing 28-6 to Ireland six days ago to show some venom against its archrival. Joe Carter Blue Jays Jersey . -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone above his left eye but has no other serious injuries after being hit in the face by a line drive in a spring training game.Each week, well take a look at some top performers from the CFL, with an eye to looking ahead to some matchups that could be favourable for TSN Fantasy Football, CFL Edition, presented by Joseph Abboud. Here are some of the best from Week Two and players to watch for Week Three: TOP PERFORMERS Ricky Ray, QB, Toronto - After a brilliant performance (29-for-37, 407 YDS, 3 TD) against Saskatchewan, Ray leads all quarterbacks in passing yards (690) and touchdowns (five) through the first couple games. In a passing league, Ray is the cream of the crop right now. Chad Owens, WR, Toronto - Someone has to be on the receiving end for Ray and, against the Roughriders, it was Owens (11 REC, 159 YDS, 1 TD vs. Saskatchewan). Hes the leagues top receiver, with 237 yards, through two games; 93 yards more than second-place Adarius Bowman of Edmonton. Nic Grigsby, RB, Winnipeg - Followed up his stellar Week One performance with a big game (112 YDS, 16 touches, 3 TD) against Ottawa. Through two weeks, Grigsby has 251 yards from scrimmage as part of an exciting Blue Bombers attack. PLAYERS TO WATCH IN WEEK THREE Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Calgary - After a decisive Week One win, during which Mitchell passed for 313 yards and a couple of touchdowns, the Stampeders got the week off last week. With health questions surroounding star runner Jon Cornish, the Stamps may need Mitchell to throw lots to stay competitive in Toronto.ddddddddddddGoing up against an Argonauts defence that has allowed an average of 329 passing yards through the first couple games, enough that they traded for Dwight Anderson to shore up the secondary, ought to present a favourable matchup for Mitchell too. Nick Moore, WR, Winnipeg - A big free agent signing in the offseason, Moore has been a valuable target for QB Drew Willy and if Willy is going to continue airing it out -- he and Ricky Ray are the only quarterbacks with more than 600 yards passing -- Moore is a good play as a complementary threat behind team-leading receiver Aaron Kelly. Going into Montreal isnt necessarily easy pickings, but might as well ride the Bombers, at least until they slow down. Chevon Walker, RB, Ottawa - The Jamaican-born runner had a strong debut for the Redblacks (99 YDs, 17 touches, 2 TD at Winnipeg) and has a decent track record from his time in Hamilton, including 1285 yards from scrimmage with nine touchdowns on 189 touches. Now, hes the primary backfield threat for Ottawa. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '