Kings can add to win column

Defenseman Drew Doughty had called the Kings’ game against Florida Thursday a must-win situation. Anze Kopitar’s skill in back-handing a rebound past Tomas Vokoun spared Doughty the prospect of eating his words in defeat.

“I don’t even want to know what would have happened,” Doughty said after Kopitar’s goal at 17:17 of the third period lifted the Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Panthers at Staples Center, ending their four-game losing streak and halting a 1-7 slide.

“Now that we finally got this win we’re going to come out for the next game with a lot of confidence and be at our best.”

The winner resulted after the Kings, who had tied it 2:36 into the final period on a good read and a rising shot by defenseman Peter Harrold, lost a faceoff in Florida’s zone but regained the puck. Vokoun stopped Dustin Brown’s hard shot but Kopitar finessed the rebound.

“He made the save and I thought he was a little out of position, and that’s why I just put it right back on net,” Kopitar said. “Everything was a must-win for us throughout the stretch we were going through.”

The Kings killed three penalties -- including an interference call against Doughty at 12:36 of the third -- to improve their home penalty-killing record to 41 for 41.

Jonathan Quick made 24 saves, including a sprawling arm stop on David Booth at 7:21 of the final period, as the Kings fought past early nerves and turned the boos of the announced crowd of 17,270 into cheers.

Winning didn’t lift the Kings (14-10-0) out of last in the tight Pacific Division, but it did lift their spirits.

“It feels good to come into the locker room and have the music playing,” defenseman Matt Greene said.

The happy tunes ended a day that began with rumors the Kings had boosted their offense by acquiring left wing Marco Sturm from Boston for a conditional draft pick. It didn’t happen -- and in fact the Kings subtracted a body by returning 19-year-old center Brayden Schenn to his junior team.

Sturm, who began his NHL career with San Jose when Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi had that role with the Sharks, was willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Kings would take him on. But the Kings were wary of the knee surgery that has kept Sturm from playing this season and they needed immediate help. He won’t be cleared to play for two to three weeks.

“There was no deal,” Lombardi said Thursday night. Assistant GM Ron Hextall said the Kings might reconsider Sturm while exploring ways to boost their offense.

One option they rejected was Schenn, who won a job out of training camp but lost it because of his defensive failings. Schenn played eight games, the last on Oct. 30, and sat until he was loaned to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League for conditioning. He didn’t play when he returned, and the Kings belatedly realized he’d benefit more from playing for Brandon of the Western Hockey League -- and likely for Canada at the World Junior Championships -- than watching from NHL press boxes. The Kings can’t recall him this season.

Kings Coach Terry Murray said he didn’t see a place for Schenn because winger Alexei Ponikarovsky, who broke his finger Nov. 6, is a week away from returning. Nor did he want Schenn to feel pressure to rescue a slumping team. “I don’t think that’s a fair thing,” Murray said.

The Kings rescued themselves Thursday after losing an early lead.

Jarret Stoll’s skidding shot, off a pass from Justin Williams, put them ahead at 10:24 of the first period. The Panthers pulled even when Keaton Ellerby’s blast from the left point took an odd carom and ended up in front of the net. Harrold slipped, leaving Florida’s Michal Repik a half-empty net at 13:51.

The Panthers surged ahead at 15:51 of the second period, after defenseman Jack Johnson was bumped off the puck along the right-wing boards and the puck was relayed to David Booth for a wrist shot, but Harrold tied it after a throw-it-at-the-net assist by Kyle Clifford, the rookie’s first NHL point.

Kopitar’s goal turned a must-win into reality. “Everyone in here feels about 60 pounds lighter,” said Greene, ever the heavy thinker.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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