Los Angeles Kings 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Bryan Smolinski's bad-angle goal with 2:45 remaining lifted the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Frustrated for most of the afternoon by goaltender Ron Tugnutt, the Kings scored the game-winner on an apparently harmless play. Smolinski took a pass along the goal line on the left side from Aaron Miller, one of two players acquired in Wednesday's deal that sent All-Star defenseman Rob Blake to Colorado. With no Kings in front, Smolinski flipped a shot that beat Tugnutt to the stick side.

After killing a hooking penalty to Ian Laperriere with 2:14 left, the Kings pulled within two points of Edmonton for the final Western Conference playoff spot. "That was a tough team playing against us," Miller said. "They kept it close. We got a lot of chances in the third. You've got to get a lucky break, and we did."

Ziggy Palffy cemented the win with an empty-net goal, his second of the game, with one second left. Los Angeles outshot the expansion Blue Jackets, 14-3, in the third period. "We got caught on a long shift (on the winning goal)," Columbus coach Dave King said. "We couldn't get it out and they took a lucky shot. That's the way it's been lately. Our offense was anemic."

Adam Deadmarsh, the other player acquired in the Blake trade, appeared to give the Kings the lead with under nine minutes remaining as his deflection got past Tugnutt. But the puck caromed off the left goalpost and stayed out of the net. "I'm obviously not Rob Blake and I never will be, but I'm going to go out and give it my best here, and hopefully that'll be enough," Deadmarsh said. "I played on two different lines today and it seemed like they were all trying to give me the puck a lot. I just didn't put it in. I'm just looking forward to this stretch drive. The guys here are competitors and I'd glad to be a part of it."

The loss was Columbus' fifth straight and extended its winless streak to seven games (0-4-1-2). In the last four contests, the Blue Jackets were either tied or ahead in the final three minutes of regulation. "I think we knew the kind of game it would be," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "If you had looked at Columbus over the last six games, they've had four overtime games and lost in the last three minutes. They haven't been beaten badly by anybody, so we knew that it would be a real grind-out game."

Palffy gave the Kings a 1-0 lead 1:45 into the game before Espen Knutsen tied it 7:41 into the second. Newly acquired goalie Felix Potvin earned his second straight victory for the Kings, facing only 17 shots. He made 15 saves in Thursday's 2-0 victory at Calgary.

"We played the same kind of game today," Potvin said. "We didn't take many chances and we really played strong in our end. The defensemen were always clearing the puck and our forwards were always back to help." "It was a matter of just trying to stick with our game, and I was pleased with that," Murray added. "Our commitment to our team game was solid."

Since Blake was a popular player, there was some concern over how the newcomers would be received. But Potvin said the sellout crowd was supportive throughout. "We felt the crowd was behind us and the whole team was appreciative," he added. "That's huge, especially in a game like this one. Columbus is a real tough team and it was good we had the crowd to help us out."

Tugnutt made 29 saves, keeping the Blue Jackets in the game until allowing Smolinski's goal. "I know I have to play real sharp in the third period the way things have been going lately," Tugnutt said. "But it just didn't work out for us again today."

"We need to play better. I'm going to take the high road and say it's just the time of day," King added, referring to the early start. "We'll find out tomorrow (at Anaheim)."

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