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Ersberg, defense help Kings snap slide

Nov 7, 2008 - 8:06 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers have not been to Staples Center in three years, but the Los Angeles Kings would not mind if they visited more often.

The Kings used a strong defensive effort to end a five-game losing streak and post a 3-2 victory against the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Entering with an 0-4-1 record in its previous five games and without leading goal-scorer Cory Stillman due to a concussion, Florida was anemic offensively, registering only six shots through two periods. The Kings outshot the Panthers, 32-15, overall.

"Six shots through two periods is not enough," Panthers coach Peter DeBoer said. "You have to win puck battles and get your nose dirty, and we don't have a lot of guys that want to do that.

"I don't know if it's the effort is not there. We aren't playing with a lot of confidence, but you have to work for that. They know how to play."

Backup goaltender Erik Ersberg might be shedding that title soon. The Swede came up with his second straight strong performance, turning aside 13 shots. On Tuesday, Ersberg shut out the Anaheim Ducks for 60 minutes before losing in overtime in his first start of the season.

"That's what we're looking for, somebody to step up in that position," Kings coach Terry Murray said of Ersberg. "Whoever the team is playing, they need to take the other part on their shoulders and shut the door. (Ersberg) was pretty good, even with the few shots he had. He played pretty good."

Against the Panthers, Ersberg did not see nearly as many shots but still was solid in net, although he did make one mistake early in the third period. Anthony Stewart lazily fired a shot toward the net that managed to slip between the goalie's pads at 2:09, drawing the Panthers within 2-1.

"It's a very good feeling to get a win," Ersberg said. "It came down to the end, though. It shouldn't have been that close, I guess. The first goal was a bad goal by me. We got the two points, and that's what matters."

Los Angeles gave Ersberg support early on, opening the scoring with 3:33 left in the first period. Brian Boyle registered his first goal of the season when he picked up a loose puck at the bottom of the right faceoff circle and wristed it past netminder Tomas Vokoun, who made 29 saves.

The Kings doubled their advantage on the power play just over two minutes later.

After a tripping penalty was called on Florida blue-liner Bryan McCabe, who was playing in his first game since the season opener due to back spasms, Anze Kopitar drew two defenders toward him before feathering a pass through the slot to defenseman Tom Preissing for a one-timer that beat Vokoun to the glove side.

"(My) back felt fine," McCabe said. "My timing is a little off, but that will come. I missed a month of hockey, and it's not going to come overnight, but I felt pretty good."

Los Angeles added an insurance goal midway through the third, when captain Dustin Brown wristed a shot past Vokoun for a 3-1 bulge. However, the Panthers kept it close with a last-minute surge.

"From top to bottom, we had a good game tonight. I think we really supported each other in our defensive zone, which made it easy," Brown said. "And then offensively, we kept the puck in their zone. I think our offensive-zone play was really good tonight and ate up a lot of the clock."

With teammate Jay Bouwmeester in the penalty box for hooking, Nathan Horton beat Ersberg with a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, pulling Florida within one with 51 seconds remaining. But the Kings held on to snap an 0-3-2 slide.

Despite the final score, DeBoer was very disappointed in his team's performance.

"It's inexcusable. You'll have to ask the leadership group in the room, and we're just not good enough - bottom line," DeBoer said. "It's our job to make them do it, and we're at the point in the season now where you have to earn your ice time or you're not going to play. Unfortunately, there were too many guys to sit tonight to use benching as a motivation to them."