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Kings give Stevens first win at helm by edging Blue Jackets

Dec 16, 2011 - 4:03 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Dustin Brown scored the go-ahead goal near the midway mark of the third period, as the Los Angeles Kings snapped a five-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Davis Drewiske also scored in the third frame for the Kings, who bounced back from a 3-0 loss to the Bruins on Tuesday to improve to 1-1-0 under interim head coach John Stevens.

Jonathan Quick made 24 saves for Los Angeles, which has been held to two goals or less in 10 straight games.

"The status doesn't change; it still feels like a win," Stevens said. "It was just a big win for our team considering the slide we've been on here. I just thought the guys played extremely hard tonight."

Jeff Carter lit the lamp for a fourth consecutive contest for the Blue Jackets, who fell to 1-2-1 on a five-game homestand.

Curtis Sanford turned aside 39-of-41 shots in defeat.

Carter broke a scoreless tie with 3:17 left in the second period. Vinny Prospal gathered a loose puck at the right circle and fired a shot on net. The puck hit off the skate of a Kings player before deflecting into the net off Carter's stick.

The Kings tied things up at the 4:33 mark of the third stanza. Drewiske's wrister from the left point beat traffic in front and got past Sanford. Brown and defenseman Fedor Tyutin battled by the crease on the play.

"I don't know how that's not goalie interference," Sanford said. "The guy locks skates with me and then pushes my arm out of the way as soon as the shot comes. It's disappointing that some of these calls are missed. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes."

Brown gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead at the 8:12 mark. Drew Doughty's slapper from the right point deflected off Brown's stick and beat Sanford.

Game Notes

The Kings have won four straight and seven of the last eight meetings with Columbus...Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (lower body) missed the game... Columbus was without forward Derek Dorsett (left leg)...The Blue Jackets went 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Kings went 0-for-2 with the man advantage.