NHL
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup
Video Highlights

  Sunday, Mar. 19 8:00pm ET
Ronning's overtime goal lifts Predators
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- This was one game goalie Mike Dunham did not deserve to lose -- or even tie.

Greg Johnson scored the equalizer 54 seconds into the third period, and assisted on Cliff Ronning's game-winner 51 seconds into overtime as the Nashville Predators beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Sunday night.

Jason Blake's second goal in 34 games was the only blemish on an otherwise spectacular performance by Dunham, who made 41 saves and stopped all 29 shots he faced over the final 48:08.

Dunham established a career high with his 17th victory, thwarting three Los Angeles power plays and extending Luc Robitaille's season-high goal-scoring drought to eight games.

"They're a great team. They came out firing the puck from all angles, and took all kinds of shots," Dunham said after Nashville's fourth consecutive overtime game. "Fortunately, I had a little luck, and a few hit me when I didn't see them."

Coming off their first shutout loss in 92 games, the Kings held a 34-14 advantage in shots on goal and a 1-0 lead before Johnson scored his 10th goal on Nashville's first shot of the third period.

Ronning made a short pass from behind the net to Karlis Skrastins, who skated away from Ian Laperriere and out to the top of the left circle, made a 360-degree spin and let fly with a wrist shot that deflected off Johnson's stick and over Jamie Storr's glove.

"We're on the way to the airport right now and betting out of town -- because we definitely stole one today," Dunham said.

"They were playing well and we weren't, but we came out in the third period and one goal changed everything. Then LA started worrying about tying or losing. And in overtime, anything can happen."

Ronning, who leads the Predators with 23 goals, got his second game-winner when he converted Bill Houlder's cross-ice pass in front of the crease and beat Storr to the glove side.

"I think we're learning how to find ways to win," Ronning said. "When we're in a situation where the game's tied, we feel very confident we can win it."

The victory was Nashville's 54th as a franchise, breaking the record for second-year expansion teams shared by Tampa Bay and Florida.

"We've got nothing to lose at this point and we just want to get as many wins as we can," Johnson said. "We've had games where we've outshot teams and lost, and this was one we just kind of stole."

Los Angeles, which had won its first three against Nashville this year, dropped to 27-2-2 when leading after two periods. The only other time they were beaten in that situation was Jan. 29, a 3-2 loss to Toronto in which the Kings squandered a 2-0 lead.

"We wanted a solid effort and we gave that, so we can't get down about it," Storr said. "A year ago, a game like this would have been devastating because we would have gotten no points. But we got one point tonight, and that's the positive we can take from this."

The Kings established a season high for first-period shots with an 18-6 advantage against Nashville, playing its fourth road game in six nights. But the only shot to get past Dunham was Blake's fifth goal of the season, which ended the rookie defenseman's 10-game scoring drought.

Moments after Blake's shot from the top of the right circle was kicked out by Dunham, the rookie center positioned himself at the edge of the crease and converted Jozef Stumpel's pass from behind the net at 12:43.

"I don't think we played a bad game, so I don't want to sound all doom and gloom," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "But there were some players who needed to step up and didn't."

Just 48 seconds after Rob Blake's check on Richard Linter sent the Predators defenseman limping to the dressing room, the Kings defenseman earned a boarding penalty for sending Johnson head-first into the right corner of the Kings' zone. But the Predators failed to get a shot on net during the 22 seconds they had a two-man advantage.

Nashville's Scott Walker had to be helped off the ice after Aki Berg's one-timer from inside the Nashville blue line struck him flush on the right knee during a power play with two minutes left in the second period. It was the 32nd shot the Predators right wing has blocked this season, but he later returned and finished the game.

 


ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard

Nashville Clubhouse

Los Angeles Clubhouse


RECAPS
Philadelphia 6
Boston 2

Washington 5
Tampa Bay 2

Dallas 5
San Jose 3

New Jersey 5
Florida 2

Anaheim 3
Detroit 1

Calgary 3
Edmonton 2

Nashville 2
Los Angeles 1

Pittsburgh 5
NY Rangers 4