Stars hold off Kings, 6-4
LOS ANGELES -- Patrick Sharp recorded a goal and two assists and Radek Faksa registered three assists as the Dallas Stars defeated the Los Angeles Kings 6-4 on Monday.
Dallas (17-16-8) received a goal and an assist from Tyler Seguin and Jiri Hudler to win the rubber game of the three-game season series. Antti Niemi saved only one Kings shot in 14:42 of play to win the game in relief of starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen.
Los Angeles (20-17-4) lost for the second time in the last three home games. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty each tallied a goal and an assist. Peter Budaj stopped 17 of 22 shots in the loss and was replaced by Jeff Zatkoff at 7:31 of the final period.
Sharp added an empty-net goal to close out the scoring.
Dallas regained the lead at 5-4 on Hudler's first goal of the season, at 7:44 of the final period. After Budaj turned the puck over behind his own net, Seguin pushed the puck toward the crease for a tap-in by Hudler.
After Drew Shore gave the Stars a 4-2 lead at 2:59 of the third period, the Kings rallied to tie the game at 4 with two goals in 58 seconds. Kopitar's fifth goal of the season, at 4:20, pulled the Kings to within 4-3, and Doughty's power play goal at 5:18 earned the Kings capped Los Angeles' comeback.
Los Angeles closed to within 3-2 on a power play by Dustin Brown, his fifth of the season at 2:16 of the third period. Brown took a feed from Nic Dowd and fired a wrist shot past Lehtonen with Alec Martinez registering the secondary assist.
Dallas took a 1-0 lead on Brett Richie's eighth goal of the season at 19:03 of the first period. Kings center Jeff Carter turned over the puck at the Los Angeles goal line and Lauri Kopikoski shoveled a quick pass to Ritchie for a short wrist shot that beat a surprised Budaj.
The Stars extended their lead to 2-0 on Seguin's 15th goal of the season, at 9:04 of the second period. Dallas took advantage of a turnover by Los Angeles' fourth line to launch a shot that was batted in the air and off Budaj for the score. Jason Spezza and Hudler earned assists.
Los Angeles narrowed the lead to 2-1 on Nick Shore's shorthanded goal, his fourth score of the season, at 15:05 of the second period. With Jake Muzzin in the penalty box, Shore finished a rush down the right wing with a short-side wrist shot that beat Lehtonen, with Tanner Pearson and Doughty earning assists.
Dallas regained its two-goal lead at 3-1 on Jamie Oleksiak's fifth goal of the season, at 15:43. Fasek won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Sharp fed Oleksiak for a point shot that appeared to deflect off Kings defenseman Derek Forbort and into the net.
NOTES: Dallas scratched LW Curtis McKenzie, D Patrick Nemeth and D Stephen Johns. ... The Stars entered the contest with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games at Staples Center. They have fared well against the Pacific Division, going 7-2-2 in 11 contests. ... With his goal on Saturday, Stars LW Patrick Eaves now has 14 goals this season, matching a single-season best for the forward in a Stars sweater as he also potted 14 goals in 2014-15, his first campaign with Dallas. ... Los Angeles did not dress D Tom Gilbert, C Andy Andreoff and D Kevin Gravel. ... The Kings continue their seven-game home stand on Thursday against St. Louis. Their next road game is Jan. 21 at the New York Islanders. ... Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar appeared in his 800th NHL game. ... As speculation grows around a possible deal between the Kings and Colorado Avalanche, further evidence surfaced with three Colorado scouts in attendance including Sr. Pro Scout Garth Joy.