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Kings begin homestand against Stars

Oct 19, 2013 - 2:24 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Kings kick off an extended stay at home, one that begins on Saturday night with a meeting against the former division rival Dallas Stars.

Just two of the Kings' first eight games this season came at home, a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Oct. 7 followed two days later with an overtime win against Ottawa. Los Angeles went 3-1 on a recent road trip, capping the swing with Thursday's 2-1 shootout win over Nashville.

The Kings will now play four straight and eight of their next nine at home after improving to 4-0 in overtime and shootouts this season.

Los Angeles got its regulation goal from Slava Voynov, while Anze Kopitar has the lone shootout tally. Jonathan Quick stopped 34 shots through overtime.

"He was sharp tonight," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said of his goaltender. "He was good early, and it's a good test for him, because it's a building where he's had a tough time."

Quick has been a bit more successful versus the Stars, going 14-6-2 with a 2.40 goals against average in 22 previous meetings.

Dallas remains without its No. 1 netminder in Kari Lehtonen, who has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury. He did practice on Friday, but is not expected to be ready for this game or Sunday's contest in Anaheim.

Dan Ellis is likely to spell Lehtonen again on Saturday and is 7-2-0 with a 2.44 GAA in 10 games versus Los Angeles.

Ellis made 32 saves through overtime before holding off another three skaters in the shootout of a 4-3 victory over San Jose. Alex Chiasson had the game- winner in the tiebreaker for Dallas.

"When coach told me I was going third (in the shootout), I just took a couple of deep breaths. These are the situations you want to be in as a player," Chiasson said.

Tyler Seguin, Cody Eakin and Trevor Daley scored in regulation as the Stars snapped a two-game slide, while Ellis settled down after yielding a goal just nine seconds into the game.

It marked the fastest goal ever scored against the Stars franchise, surpassing the record of 10 set by Duane Sutter of the New York Islanders against the Minnesota North Stars on Nov. 15, 1986. Chicago's Dave Bolland also scored 10 seconds into a meeting with the Dallas Stars on March 16, 2012.

The Stars, who moved from the Pacific to the Central Division this season under realignment, went 3-1-1 in five meetings with its former division mates last season. Dallas is also 4-0-1 in its past five trips to Los Angeles.