Kings-Stars: Kings lead, 2-1, after one
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The introduction of Alexander Frolov, welcomed back into the fold after being a healthy scratch in the Kings’ previous game, drew cheers from fans at Staples Center. He played the left side with Michal Handzus and Dustin Brown, as Coach Terry Murray had indicated, but Murray did throw in one surprise: he placed Wayne Simmonds on the top line, beside Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar, in place of the injured Justin Williams.
Murray had said after the morning skate that he might use Trevor Lewis in that spot but instead put Lewis on the right side with Teddy Purcell and Jarret Stoll. The fourth line was Raitis Ivanans with Brad Richardson and Peter Harrold.
Kopitar scored a brilliant goal to give the Kings a 1-0 lead at 3:54 of the first period. Shaking off defenseman Stephane Robidas -- who’s neither a rookie nor a lightweight -- Kopitar skated in on the right wing used his left arm to keep Robidas at bay and used his body to shield the puck. He continued to go to the net, shifting his weight as he cut through the slot and slipping the puck between goaltender Alex Auld’s stick and the left post.
The teams were playing four-on-four when Simmonds gave the Kings a 2-0 lead at 15:37. Frolov forced a turnover in the neutral zone and controlled the puck as he zipped up the left side. A right-handed shooter, he had to go to his backhand to pass to Simmonds, who beat Auld with a backhander for his third goal of the season.
The Stars came back with a goal on the next shift. Dallas winger James Neal blocked Rob Scuderi’s attempt to get the puck deep into Dallas’ zone and quickly turned the play back up ice, coming on on a two-on-one with Brad Richards. Neal took the shot and scored from about 25 feet.
More later here, and at www.latimes.com/sports
-- Helene Elliott