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Final in Detroit: Kings 5, Red Wings 0

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At the Red Wings’ morning skate Coach Mike Babcock was asked his opinion of Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who played for him on Canada’s goal medal-winning Olympic team at the Vancouver Games.

“He’s just better and smarter than everybody else,” Babcock said. “He’s just been touched by God and he’s been given a gift and he seems to like hockey.”

It’s debatable whether Doughty has been touched by a supreme being, but he sure wasn’t touched by Detroit’s defense Monday.

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Doughty racked up three assists in the Kings’ stunning 5-0 rout of the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena and excelled defensively after Matt Greene left the game with what was called an upper-body injury. He appeared to be wobbly after being hit in to the boards by Detroit’s Niklas Kronwall late in the opening period.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick made a career-best 51 saves, including 26 in the second period, as the Kings (17-10-1) opened their five-game trip with an impressive performance against the West-leading Red Wings. The shutout was Quick’s second this season and left the Kings 2-0 against Detroit this season.

[Updated 7:27] Wayne Simmonds scored in the first period, Oscar Moller in the second, Anze Kopitar twice in the third, and Michigan resident Jack Johnson scored in the third on Jimmy Howard, who faced 26 shots. Doughty was originally credited with the fourth goal of the game, but the official scorer changed it because the shot went off Kopitar’s skate.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

Helene Elliott, in Detroit

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