Laperriere Provides Big Spark

NASHVILLE â€”  Ian Laperriere didn’t understand the fuss.

So what if he was back in the lineup only eight days after knee surgery, even though the original prognosis was that he would be sidelined for at least a month? His right knee, he said, felt “a hundred times better� after bone chips and scar tissue were removed during a 15-minute arthroscopic procedure Feb. 3.

He was no miracle man.

Laperriere, however, did little to dispel the notion Tuesday night, scoring the winning goal in the Kings’ 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators in front of an announced crowd of 10,334 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

“Everybody’s got to chip in,� said Laperriere, whose first goal since Nov. 16, ending a 28-game drought, gave the Kings their second victory in 12 road games since Dec. 11. “I’m not a goal scorer, but I can chip in once in a while.�

With defenseman Mathieu Schneider in the penalty box for obstruction interference, the Kings were short-handed when Laperriere stripped the puck from Predator center Denis Arkhipov behind the Predator net.

He carried it out front and lifted it over goaltender Tomas Vokoun for only his third goal, giving the Kings a 3-1 lead with 8:47 to play.

Vitali Yachmenev scored for the Predators only 33 seconds later, cutting the lead to one goal, and the Predators pressured goaltender Jamie Storr right to the end. They finished with 38 shots, the most given up by the Kings since Jan. 12, 2002, when they gave up 41 in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Storr made a season-high 36 saves.

“There are some nights when you need your goaltender to win a hockey game for you,� King Coach Andy Murray said, “and fortunately for us tonight Jamie was on top of his game.�

The victory, which ended a six-game road losing streak for the Kings, was the fourth in five starts for Storr in place of No. 1 goaltender Felix Potvin. He has compiled a 1.75 goals-against average and .935 save percentage since taking over, including a scoreless 44-minute relief stint on the night Potvin suffered a knee injury.

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Ziggy Palffy and Aaron Miller scored first-period goals for the Kings, who have won four of five and are 7-0-2 at Nashville since losing their Tennessee debut on April 3, 1999.... Jared Aulin sat out because of a sore left elbow, creating an opening for Chris Schmidt, who made his NHL debut.... Goaltender Travis Scott will be recalled today from the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H., trading places with Cristobal Huet, who will return to Manchester.