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Dumont helps Predators thwart Kings

Nov 16, 2008 - 7:28 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Playing the finale of their season-high, six-game road trip, the Nashville Predators had just enough gas left in the tank at the end to finish on a positive note.

J.P. Dumont scored a power-play goal with 2:28 left in the third period to snap a tie and lead the Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Captain Jason Arnott recorded a goal and an assist and defenseman Shea Weber scored an empty-netter with 48 seconds remaining as Nashville extended its winning streak to three.

"We were chipping away and found a way to win," Arnott said. "That's what we've got to do every single night so we can try to come away with points."

Dan Ellis made 33 saves, including 14 in the second period.

"We got some good goaltending real early and battled through it," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "(The Kings) have a lot of structure and they don't give you a lot."

With the win, the Predators completed a sweep of the NHL's three California teams. They skated past the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks in a span of five days after dropping three straight to open their trek.

"To be honest with you, I think that is the first time we've won all three games in California," Trotz said. "Our overall record in these buildings isn't very good, and we found out a lot about ourselves."

Michal Handzus netted the lone tally for Los Angeles, which saw its four-game winning streak end. The Kings failed to posted their first five-game run since February 11-March 7, 2006.

"We had a lot of good looks in the game," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "Especially in the second period. We had 27 shots after two periods and probably had a dozen great scoring chances. We just couldn't find the way to get the job done in the offensive part of it here tonight."

With the Predators enjoying a man advantage late in the third, Dumont was able to corral a loose puck in front of the net and beat goaltender Erik Ersberg for a 2-1 edge.

"I think that was our game to win," Kings rookie defenseman Drew Doughty said. "They got that power-play goal at the end, and that was our downfall."

Weber fired the puck into an empty net 1:40 later for his eighth goal of the season, sealing the win.

Ersberg, a second-year goalie who started the year as the backup to Jason LaBarbera, turned aside 31 shots despite suffering his second loss of the season.

"We just couldn't get those loose pucks in front of the net," Ersberg said. "Especially in the second period, we had a lot of pucks lying around, but their defense did a good job, too."

Arnott snapped a scoreless deadlock with 9:34 left the second.

"It's not the way we wanted to start the game," Arnott said. "But we talked about getting back to the basics and getting back to the way we play, and that's just work ethic."

After gaining possession of the puck, Ellis fed Martin Erat to start a 3-on-2 rush. Erat dished to Dumont, and Arnott converted another pass while in front of the crease for a 1-0 lead.

Just 4:40 later, the Kings forged a tie as Handzus got just enough of his stick on defenseman Kyle Quincey's shot from the point, deflecting it past Ellis for his fourth goal and eighth point of the season. It took the Slovakian 31 games to reach that total last campaign.

Ellis was impenetrable the rest of the way, helping Nashville improve to 9-4-0 against Los Angeles in their last 13 meetings.

"Their goaltender played great," Murray said. "Give Ellis a lot of credit, he was the difference in the game, and he's the reason why they won tonight."