Penalty-Killing Unit Uses a Simple Plan

The Kings awoke Thursday, fresh off a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators, and found reason to pore over the updated NHL stats, if not frame them. They were no longer dead last in penalty killing. They were tied for last.

The Kings held Nashville scoreless on six power-play attempts and moved into a tie for 29th with the Montreal Canadiens.

The Kings will accept the improvement and hope it represents a trend, not a one-game glitch, with consecutive road games against the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.

“We went over a few things -- keep it simple out there, pay the price and play hard,” defenseman Jaroslav Modry said.

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Forward Sean Avery, the Kings’ designated antagonist, also managed to irritate Nashville Coach Barry Trotz after picking up a five-minute major for boarding. Avery sent Scott Hartnell headfirst into the boards with a shove to the back as Hartnell tried to collect the puck behind the Nashville goal line.

Trotz called Avery “one of the cheap players in the league” and said he should be suspended.

“This is not his first incident,” Trotz told the Tennessean. “You can paralyze guys like that, and we’ll remember that.”

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TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- American Airlines Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 9-6-1-1, Stars 7-9-3-0.

Record vs. Stars (2002-03) -- 2-3-0-0.

Update -- Star goaltender Marty Turco has been shaky and leads the NHL in one category -- penalty minutes for a goalie (12).

-- Mike Bresnahan