Handzus records hat trick as Kings rally to beat Stars in OT

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03/06/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michal Handzus netted his second career hat trick by scoring the winning goal at 1:31 of overtime, giving the Kings a thrilling 5-4 comeback win over the Dallas Stars.

Anze Kopitar, who had a goal and two assists, scored the equalizer with 13.1 seconds left in regulation, as the Kings snapped a four-game skid thanks to scoring twice in the final 3:18 of the third period.

Alexander Frolov had a goal and two assists, while Drew Doughty also had two helpers for Los Angeles, which rallied due to a 21-3 shots advantage in the third period.

"When we are down two or three goals that's our game, we play desperate and start to put the puck toward the net, we start skating and you saw what happened," said Handzus. "We got a couple of lucky bounces, but we put it in the net. That's what you have to do for 60 minutes to win more games."

Erik Ersberg, who was given a two-year contract extension on Wednesday, allowed four goals on 13 shots in the second period alone and finished with 15 saves. He was replaced by Jonathan Quick, who faced only four shots combined in the third period and overtime.

James Neal, Loui Eriksson, Steve Ott and Mike Ribeiro were the goal scorers for the Stars, who lost for the sixth time in seven contests. Marty Turco made 35 saves for Dallas.

In the overtime, Jack Johnson shot the puck wide of the net on the right side. Handzus got the disc behind the net, spun to the left side before directing the puck off Dallas defenseman Trevor Daley and by a stunned Turco to end the game. It was Handzus' first hat trick since December 23, 2000.

Down 4-2 entering the third, the Kings peppered the Dallas net consistently. A Frolov backhander hit the left post with under 10 minutes left, and Turco came up with a huge glove save moments later on a close-in attempt from Kopitar.

But penalties were the downfall for Dallas as the Stars took four of them in a 3:08 span in the third period A hooking call on Stephane Robidas and an interference call on Turco led to a 5-on-3, and Handzus capitalized. Kopitar sent the puck from the right side of the net, and Handzus, stationed in front, whacked at the disc before finally getting it by Turco.

The Kings then had a goal disallowed with nearly three minutes left because Dustin Brown was called for incidental contact after backing into the crease and into Turco as the puck went into the net.

Brown, though drew a roughing penalty on Mark Fistric, who threw a punch and went off the ice with 2:24 remaining in regulation. That power play produced the tying goal.

"I think its just a matter of playing our game," said Fistric. "We got away from it and we took a lot of penalties that we shouldn't have, and we put ourselves behind. It's really disappointing."

A Dallas player lost his stick near the right boards, where Kopitar shot it on net surprising Turco and tying the game.

"I've said many times this year that the power play can win you games and the penalty kill can lose you games," said Kings coach Terry Murray. "This was the perfect example."

The teams played to a scoreless first period, but a total of six goals were featured in the second. Eriksson scored his 29th goal of the season at the 5:49 mark. Mike Modano passed the disc from the left circle to the slot area, and Eriksson skated with the puck around a fallen Ersberg for the goal.

Ribeiro scored at the 10:38 mark on a rebound from the left circle and it became 3-0 just 1:25 later on Neal's 21st of the year.

The Kings capitalized on a Steve Begin cross-checking penalty with Handzus lightning the lamp on the power play at 15:41. Kyle Quincey blasted a one- timer from above the right circle, but Handzus was in front to redirect the puck by Turco.

Frolov's goal, his 27th, came just 33 seconds later on a rebound after Turco turned aside Brown's shot from the right circle.

Then, with time winding down in the period, Ott came up with a gritty goal. He was stationed in front of Ersberg and hit the puck twice with his skate against the netminder's right pad, and once it was loose Ott deposited the puck into the net with 13.9 seconds remaining.

Game Notes

The Kings, who started a three-game homestand, went to 14-13-8 as the host. They'll play Minnesota on Saturday and Vancouver Monday...Dallas, which moved to 13-14-4 on the road, play at Anaheim Friday... Forward Brendan Morrison, who was claimed off waivers from the Ducks on Wednesday, was held off the scoreboard for the Stars...The Kings have won five of their last six at home versus the Stars...Dallas was 0-for-3 on the power play, while LA was 2- of-10...Handzus has scored both Kings overtime game-winners this season (last Oct. 17 vs. Carolina)...The last time the Kings trailed by three goals in a game and won was Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Dallas (trailed 4-0 and won 6-5 in OT).