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Stars beat Kings, hand Jones first career loss

Dec 24, 2013 - 6:49 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists, and the Dallas Stars denied Martin Jones from making history in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.

Jones was 8-0-0 with a 0.98 goals-against average coming into Monday's contest. The rookie tied Philadelphia's Bob Froese (1982-83) for the NHL mark for consecutive games won to start a career.

Jones let up a career-high four goals on 23 shots, as the Kings had their three-game winning streak broken and lost for just the second time in 11 contests this month.

Kari Lehtonen gave up two goals on 32 shots for the Stars, who won for the third time in four games. Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist. Shawn Horcoff, Cody Eakin and Valeri Nichushkin also lit the lamp for the Stars, who head into the winter break with wins in three of their last four games.

"We played hard as a group. Our back end played really well," Benn said. "We don't have too much experience back there, but they handled themselves well against one of the best teams in the league, and once again, Kari was great."

Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll were the goal scorers for the Kings.

Nichushkin potted the go-ahead power-play goal 5:07 into the second period. With Stoll in the penalty box for interference, the Stars worked the puck to Seguin. He delivered a pass from above the left circle to the right one for a successful one-timer to the glove side.

Eakin made it 4-2 with 4:48 remaining in regulation. Ryan Garbutt intercepted the puck in the LA zone and sent it from behind the end line on the left side to the left circle for Eakin's blast past Lehtonen.

Horcoff scored into an empty net with 1:09 left.

The first two shots on Jones found the net. Williams and Seguin had goals separated by 80 seconds early in the first period. Benn gave the Stars a 2-1 edge 6:10 of the first on a backhander from the right circle.

"You can't spot them two goals early. It's pretty tough to win that way," Jones said.

Stoll tied the game on a blast from the right circle with 3:12 remaining in the first on a delayed penalty call.

Game Notes

The NHL record for consecutive winning decisions to begin a career is nine, set by Ray Emery, who won nine straight in a row with Ottawa from 2002-03 to 2005-06 in 12 total games ... This was just the second time in the last 23 games the Kings allowed a first period goal ... Stoll now has nine points in the last 11 games ... Dallas has earned at least one point in 20 of the last 25 contests in Los Angeles ... LA Right wing Dustin Brown sat out the game due to illness.