Kings Beat Stars With Help on Way

Martin Straka is on his way to L.A., a proven scorer who has played with guys named Lemieux and Jagr.

Until then, the Kings seem to be doing just fine.

The short-handed Kings -- a redundant statement this injury-plagued season -- completed a trade for the Pittsburgh Penguin winger and then defeated the Dallas Stars, 2-1, Sunday in front of 18,198 in the American Airlines Center.

Michael Cammalleri scored his fifth goal in seven games since being called up from the minors, and the Kings regained the two points they lost to the Stars in a 2-1 loss here Nov. 21.

They also picked up a speedy, versatile player who had a career-high 95 points in the 2000-01 season, when he tied for fourth in scoring in the NHL.

The price for the 31-year-old Straka was defenseman Martin Strbak, 28, who played five games with the Kings this season before being sent to the minors, and 19-year-old left wing Sergei Anshakov, the Kings’ unsigned second-round selection in the 2002 draft.

“This deal made a lot of sense for us,” General Manager Dave Taylor said. “Marty’s got a lot of experience. He’s played in the Olympics, he’s played at a very high level, scoring 80 and 90 points in the National Hockey League. He’s been in the playoffs. He’s a winner, plays hard for his teammates. We’re very excited to add him to our lineup.”

Straka had 35 goals with the Penguins in 1998-99 and 30 goals in 1993-94, his second NHL season.

He was tied for the team lead in scoring this season with 12 points on a young, inexperienced club that has an NHL-low 41 goals in 22 games.

Straka has encountered a rash of injuries the last two seasons, although he said he is playing free of pain.

Two seasons ago, Straka played only 13 games because he broke his right leg and ankle. Last season, he sat out 22 games because he broke two bones in his back and had recurring hamstring problems.

Straka, who has played for the Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders, said he welcomes playing for the Kings.

“I love Pittsburgh ... great bunch of guys, from management down to the players,” Straka said. “I think it’s time to leave. I haven’t been playing well lately. I have the opportunity with the L.A. Kings to be part of a good team and make a run at a Stanley Cup.”

Straka, who has not had a goal in 13 consecutive games, will join the Kings on Tuesday at St. Louis for their game against the Blues. He will become the first King to wear jersey No. 82.

As for Sunday, it was a solid victory for a team that again played without a host of injured players. And yet, the Kings outshot the Stars, 21-19, and gave up one power-play goal in seven opportunities for Dallas.

“We knew we had to play a tight-checking game with their firepower up front,” Murray said. “We worked hard tonight. I thought we were deserving.”

Cammalleri started the scoring, one-timing a perfect cross-ice feed from Alexander Frolov 31 seconds into the second period.

The Stars tied the score on Sergei Zubov’s slap shot from the point during a five-on-three advantage at 10:55 of the second period. Jerred Smithson and Aaron Miller were in the penalty box for high-sticking.

The Kings took the lead at 17:02 of the second period, with Jaroslav Modry wrapping around the net and getting a shot past Marty Turco.

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A King-Size Move

The Kings acquired veteran forward Martin Straka from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday in exchange for defenseman Martin Strbak and forward Sergei Anshakov. A look at Straka’s career statistics:

*--* Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM S% 1992-93 Penguins 42 3 13 16 2 29 10.7 93-94 Penguins 84 30 34 64 24 24 23.1 94-95 Penguins 31 4 12 16 0 16 11.1 94-95 Senators 6 1 1 2 -1 0 7.7 95-96 Senators 43 9 16 25 -14 29 14.3 95-96 Islanders 22 2 10 12 -6 6 11.1 95-96 Panthers 12 2 4 6 1 6 11.8 96-97 Panthers 55 7 22 29 9 12 7.4 97-98 Penguins 75 19 23 42 -1 28 16.2 98-99 Penguins 80 35 48 83 12 26 19.8 99-2000 Penguins 71 20 39 59 24 26 13.7 00-01 Penguins 82 27 68 95 19 38 14.6 01-02 Penguins 13 5 4 9 3 0 15.2 02-03 Penguins 60 18 28 46 -18 12 13.2 03-04 Penguins 22 4 8 12 -16 16 11.8 Totals 698 186 330 516 38 268 15.2

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