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Kings Los Angeles Kings 2 FINAL   300K | 700K
Predators Nashville Predators 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Nashville Predators have gone back to basics on their power play.

The Predators scored two power play goals in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.

"We simplified the power play," said Nashville Coach Barry Trotz. "We had about 30 plays we had designed, but we weren't mastering any of them, so we went back to the basics."

Paul Kariya and Kimmo Timomen each had a goal and an assist for the Predators in their fourth straight win, all at home. In the last three games the Predators are 8-for-22 on the power play after going 0-for-18 in their previous four games.

Adam Hall, who had missed the last four games with an ankle injury, scored the game-winner for the Predators on a wrap-around goal on the power play at 11:44 of the third period.

"The power play is one of those things that tends to be a little bit streaky," said Hall. "Sometimes everything is going right for you and the pucks just bounce in for you. Other times you making the plays and nothing is going right. You just ride it out and battle whether it is hot or cold."

Eric Belanger gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 3:41 of the first period, making a back-hander into the right side of the net.

Nashville tied the game at 14:24 with a power-play goal. Timonen took a shot from the top of the slot that bounced off the left leg pad of Los Angeles goaltender Mathieu Garon. Kariya put the rebound in the net from about eight feet out.

Timonen gave the Predators a 2-1 lead with 28 seconds left in the first when he tipped in a shot past Garon .

The Kings pelted Nashville goaltender Tomas Vokoun with 22 shots in the second period, but could only manage one goal on a rebound shot by Jeff Cowan at 8:13 that tied the game 2-2. Vokoun stopped 35 of the 37 shots he faced.

"We had great goaltending in the second period," said Trotz. "It was also our worst period defensively all season. I give a lot of credit to Los Angeles, but we could have eliminated a lot of that. We just played sloppy."

Notes: Kings center Jeremy Roenick ended his point-streak at four games. Kariya has five assists in his last three games and leads the Predators with 12. Timonen has four consecutive multiple point games. Nashvilles Martin Erat skated in his 200th NHL game. ... The Predators are 8-0-1 when the opponent scores first.



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