Kings Crown The Stars

The Los Angeles Kings couldn't have picked two tougher places to get their season back on track.

A day after stunning the Blues in St. Louis, the Kings knocked off another Western Conference heavyweight Friday night by beating the Dallas Stars 4-1.

"This is great for our confidence," said Kings goaltender Steve Passmore, who stopped 20 shots. "When you win back-to-back games in tough barns like we did the last two nights, we know we can do it against anybody."

Lubomir Visnovsky scored the tiebreaking goal on a second-period power play as the Kings beat the Stars at Reunion Arena for the first time since 1995.

"Everybody knows how much trouble we've had here," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "This is such a strange game, so up and down emotionally. It's a real credit to our players the last two nights."

Passmore was called up from Chicago of the IHL on Tuesday to fill in for the injured Stephane Fiset. He's also played for Lowell of the AHL this season.

"Just look at our goaltending," said Kings defenseman Rob Blake, who had a goal and two assists. "That makes a huge difference in the confidence of the guys."

Visnovsky converted a centering pass from Eric Belanger at 4:50 of the second period to give the Kings the lead for good, 2-1.

Ian Laperriere made it 3-1 at 11:58 of the second period, firing the puck into an open net before Stars goaltender Ed Belfour could slide back into position.

Blake's 11th goal of the season at 1:18 of the third period, on a power play, extended the Kings' lead to 4-1.

The Stars were without five regulars, including top scorer Brett Hull, who missed his second straight game with a rib-cage injury.

Dallas failed to convert on two two-man power plays in the second period, allowing the Kings to take control. Los Angeles is 2-13-3 all-time in Dallas.

Dallas scored on only one of 11 power plays.

"Their power play was strong and determined and beat our penalty kill in critical areas," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Our power play was unable to finish off some chances."

The Kings got the game's first goal at 3:17 of the opening period when Jere Karalahti's shot from the right point got past a screenEd Belfour.

Dallas began the second period with a two-man advantage for 1:15. The Kings had just killed off one of the penalties when Jere Lehtinen made it 1-1 from the left circle at 1:20.

Injuries are testing the Stars' depth. Dallas placed right wing Jamie Langenbrunner on injured reserve earlier Friday, and recalled center Greg Leeb from the Utah Grizzlies of the IHL. Center Kirk Muller will be out for at least two weeks with a chest injury.

Also missing were defenseman Gerald Diduck (sprained ankle) and right wing Grant Marshall (strained thigh muscle).

"We can't say injuries are a factor because some of those guys aren't coming back for a long time," Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk said. "So we have to do it with the guys we have in the locker room."

Notes