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Kings down Preds; Smyth scores in his 1,000th game

Nov 7, 2010 - 4:28 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist, as the Los Angeles Kings handled the Nashville Predators, 4-1, at Staples Center.

Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll also lit the lamp for the Kings, who have won four in a row and six out of seven. Smyth played in his 1,000th NHL game.

"It's an honor. It's overwhelming. I obviously still remember the first game, but it's been 1,000 games," Smyth said. "You look back and there's some great times, there's some tough times, [and] there's sad times. You go through so many different emotions throughout every hockey game, and obviously I can't remember them all, but I'm just honored to play in the NHL."

Jonathan Bernier made 25 saves for Los Angeles, which has won its first six home games for the first time since 1980-81, when the Kings were 7-0 as the hosts.

Shane O'Brien scored the lone goal for the Predators, who have lost four in a row. Pekka Rinne turned aside 18-of-22 shots before being pulled in favor of Anders Lindback, who made nine saves.

"Everything that we know they can do, they did tonight and we didn't really prevent them from doing a whole lot," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "They got off to a good start, they had a good low game going, and they beat us to the pucks all over the ice."

The Kings drew first blood at the 4:11 mark of the first period. Kopitar's shot from the left circle sailed past Rinne's glove and into the net.

Brown made it 2-0 with seven minutes remaining. Brown led a 2-on-2 rush down the right side and fired a wrister from the right circle past Rinne.

Smyth gave Los Angeles a three-goal margin at the 6:47 mark of the second. Rob Scuderi's shot from the right point was controlled in front by Smyth, who chipped the disc past Rinne.

Stoll made it 4-0 at the 10:47 mark of the middle stanza. A scramble for the puck in front resulted in Stoll's backhanded goal.

O'Brien's slapper from the left circle with 2:24 left in the third accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Preds won three out of four meetings with LA last year and have taken nine of 12 and 12 of 17 overall in the series. Nashville had also claimed five straight at the Staples Center...Nashville forward Martin Erat missed the game with an upper-body injury...The Kings (10-3-0) have the most wins and points in the NHL...The Kings' 10 wins after 13 games ties a club record (1980-81 club also had 10 wins in first 13 games)...Smyth became the 257th NHL player to play in 1,000 games (17th player to play 1,000th game in a Kings uniform)...Los Angeles forward Justin Williams, who had two assists, extended his point streak to seven games.