• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Gagne, Kings edge Predators

Nov 9, 2011 - 6:56 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Simon Gagne was one of four different Los Angeles players to score and help stop the Kings' five-game winless streak with a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators at Staples Center.

Jonathan Bernier made 27 saves, including 13 during the third period, for Los Angeles.

"It was an important win for us," said Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. "We really had to come out of that losing skid. We weren't happy with the way we were playing throughout that time and to finally get the win tonight was huge."

Anders Lindback stopped 26 shots in his first start of the season for the Predators, who had earned at least a point in their previous five games (4-0-1).

The Kings regained the two-goal lead it frittered away in the first period.

Mike Richards put the home team up 3-2 with a one-timer -- on one knee -- from the right circle at the 9:28 mark of the second period. Gagne then deflected Dustin Penner's wrister behind Lindback a little over three minutes later.

Nashville made things interesting late in the third. With the goalie on the bench, Patric Hornqvist scored on a redirection in front of Bernier, trimming the Predators' deficit to 4-3 with 1:21 to play. Nashville went with the extra skater again, but an equalizer wasn't forthcoming.

"They played a good game. We didn't play that well and they deserve the two points," Hornqvist said.

Alec Martinez and Doughty both netted their first goals of the season -- 1:44 apart -- to stake the Kings to an early 2-0 lead. But Matt Halischuk and rookie Craig Smith tallied to even the game after the opening 20 minutes.

Game Notes

Jarret Stoll, Justin Williams and Penner each had two assists for Los Angeles. Stoll's first helper was his 300th career point...Hornqvist scored in his sixth consecutive game, tying the franchise record...Both teams were 1-for-6 on the power play...Kings forward Scott Parse left the game with a lower-body injury.