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Resurgent Kings look for fourth straight against Stars

Nov 13, 2008 - 11:30 AM Los Angeles (6-6-2) at Dallas (5-7-3), 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- After winning three of their first 11 games, the Los Angeles Kings are suddenly a far cry from being a pushover in the Western Conference.

The Kings look to extend their winning streak to four when they conclude a home-and-home series with the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

The Stars were 12-2-2 against the Kings over the previous two seasons - including an eight-game sweep in 2006-07 - yet fizzled in the teams' recent duel.

Alexander Frolov scored in the fifth round of a shootout, Jarret Stoll had a power-play goal in his 300th NHL game and captain Dustin Brown also tallied to lead the Kings to a 3-2 win on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Stars were physically outplayed by the Kings, who scored just two goals in a three-game stretch prior to their current streak.

Brown, who led the NHL last season with 311 hits, checked Stephane Robidas into the Kings' bench and later received a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct for checking Mike Ribeiro into the boards and drawing blood.

The Stars were not able to solve backup goaltender Erik Ersberg during those power plays, and finished 0-for-4 with the man advantage. They were 2-for-24 during their 1-3-1 road trip.

Ersberg has started four consecutive games and is 3-0-1, yielding eight goals in that span. Los Angeles coach Terry Murray could insert Jason LaBarbera in goal for this game. The 28-year-old LaBarbera is 3-5-1 with a 3.01 goals-against average.

Dallas, meanwhile, may also call upon its backup, Tobias Stephan, to relieve Marty Turco. Logging a career 2.20 GAA during his eight-year career, Turco has posted a 3.75 mark in 13 games. The 33-year-old has never had a GAA higher than 2.55.

Stephan is 1-1-0 with a 3.54 GAA in four appearances.

Stars newcomer Sean Avery, who spent parts of four seasons with the Kings and had 99 points in 218 games, will skate against his former team for the second time since signing with Dallas as a free agent in July. He went scoreless in the first meeting.