Kings' rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Stars

Kings’ rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Stars

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, center, and defenseman Matt Greene, right, battle Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel for a rebound during the first period of the Kings' 5-4 loss Saturday.

By Associated Press

Nov. 22, 2014 8:31 PM PT

Dallas —

Jamie Benn scored two first-period goals, and the Dallas Stars held on to beat the Kings 5-4 on Saturday night.

It was the Stars’ second straight home victory after they had lost nine of their first 10 there.

Los Angeles dropped to 1-4-3 on the road at the start of a three-game trip. The only victory was at Dallas on Nov. 4.

Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg each had a goal and an assist for Dallas, and Jason Demers scored in his first game after being traded to the Stars.

Justin Williams scored two goals, and Tanner Pearson and Mike Richards had one each after Los Angeles fell behind 4-0.

Dallas’ Cody Eakin and Los Angeles’ Kyle Clifford and Jarrett Stoll had two assists apiece.

Kari Lehtonen made 38 saves for Dallas. Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick had 23, including only two in the third period.

Dallas killed three penalties in the first 12 minutes.

The Stars took a 1-0 lead at 14:35 of the first period. On a 2-on-1 break, Seguin drew the defender to him and passed across the ice to Benn in the left circle. He had the left side of the net open for his second goal in three games after an 11-game drought.

That started a flurry of three goals in 5:23. Benn had a hand in all three.

He passed the puck to Klingberg at the top of the slot for his second goal in two games at 17:16. At 19:58, Klingberg passed back to Benn for a power-play goal from the left circle.

Dallas outshot the Kings 13-10 in the period.

The lead grew to 4-0 when Lehtonen sent a pass up ice to Seguin at the Kings blue line. He skated in alone and beat Quick with a low shot inside the right post at 3:57 of the second period — his NHL-leading 15th.

Los Angeles scored at 9:32 when Pearson put in the rebound of Jake Muzzin’s shot.

Another rebound goal, by Williams on the power play, pulled the Kings within 4-2 at 12:16.

Demers scored another Dallas power-play goal at 17:53, but Los Angeles moved back within two 36 seconds later on Richards’ goal.

Williams had the only goal in the third period, when Lehtonen faced 17 shots.