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Kings, Preds resume playoff push in Los Angeles

Mar 17, 2012 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Though both are involved in tight playoff races, the Los Angeles Kings wouldn't mind swapping spots with the Nashville Predators.

The Kings hope to pick up a much-needed fourth straight victory tonight against the fifth-seeded Predators.

Los Angeles has won six of its past seven games to give it 80 points on the season. That has the Kings tied with San Jose and Calgary for ninth place in the Western Conference, with all three clubs just a point back of Phoenix and Colorado for the last two playoff positions. The Avs and Sharks are also in action on Saturday, while the Flames and Coyotes are idle.

The Kings also sit just three points behind the first-place Stars in the Pacific Division and will look to match their longest winning streak of the season tonight. Los Angeles also won four straight from Oct. 15-22 and kept its run going with last night's 4-2 win at Anaheim.

Justin Williams, Alec Martinez and Anze Kopitar all scored in the first period, while Jonathan Quick made 18 saves as the Kings improved to 22-1-2 when scoring at least three goals this season.

"We're playing pretty good hockey right now, it's desperation time for us," Kopitar said. "When you get a couple of goals ahead early, it's easier to play."

Mike Richards iced things with an empty-net tally, his first goal in 26 games and only his second tally in his past 36 contests.

The Predators come into this meeting only one point behind the Red Wings for the fourth seed in the West. They also own a four-point advantage over the sixth-place Blackhawks, who are off today. Detroit, meanwhile, is visiting San Jose.

Nashville did have a three-game win streak stopped on Thursday, losing a 2-1 shootout decision to San Jose. The Predators have gone into the tiebreaker in both games so far on their four-game swing, besting Phoenix 5-4 to begin the trek on Monday.

Patric Hornqvist scored and Pekka Rinne made 34 saves against a Sharks club that forward Martin Erat, who has seven points in six games after logging an assist, noted was also desperate.

"They put a lot of pressure on you," he said. "But we defended well and we got a point from them."

The Predators did lose forward Paul Gaustad to an upper-body injury in the loss, one that may sideline him for a few games. Defensemen Kevin Klein and Roman Josi remain questionable due to upper-body issues.

The Kings have won two of three over the Predators this season, including a 4-3 victory in the previous encounter in Los Angeles on Nov. 8. They have won six of the past eight meetings with Nashville overall, but the Preds have come away with a win in six of their last eight trips to LA.