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Final: Kings 3, Dallas 1

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When the going got tough, the Kings got going Thursday night, matching the Dallas Stars jab for jab in a rugged game in which time and space were at a premium and tempers flared at the slightest provocation and the not so slight, too.

Playing their usual tight defensive game but adding the relatively rare element of two power-play goals at home — only their second and third at Staples Center this season — the Kings defeated Dallas, 3-1, and tied a club record by winning their seventh straight home game to start a season. The 1975-76 and 1980-81 Kings also won their first seven home games to start the season.

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Justin Williams, whose speed racing up the right wing led Mark Fistric to interfere with him and give the Kings a power play, scored the decisive goal when he ripped a shot past Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen from the left circle at 6:51 of the third period, using Ryan Smyth as a screen. Jack Johnson scored the final goal at 17:12 of the third during a five-minute power play the Kings had gained after Adam Burish was penalized for boarding Drew Doughty.

The Kings defenseman, playing only his third game back after missing six games because of a concussion, was slow to get up but came out during the power play.

Williams’ goal gave him a share of the team goal-scoring lead with Dustin Brown, who scored the Kings’ first goal. Williams has an eight-game point streak, with five goals and 10 points in that span.
In winning their fifth straight game and seventh in the past eight the Kings (11-3-0) moved back atop the Western Conference standings with 22 points.

Goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 27 shots for the Kings, who next face the New York Islanders Saturday at Staples Center.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott

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