Coming Up Short Can Be Good

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Kings ended their longest losing streak of the season thanks to a heads-up play by Ian Laperriere and Brad Chartrand, who teamed up for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Monday.

With the Wild on a power play in the second period, Laperriere stole a pass in the Kings’ zone and fed Chartrand, who finished the breakaway with a short-handed goal to give the Kings a 3-1 lead.

“You’re always told to move your stick [on the penalty-kill] and once in a while, the puck will hit it,” Laperriere said. “It was a lucky bounce because I was bringing my stick back and the puck went right on it.

“We went off on a two-on-one and Chartty made the right decision.”

For Chartrand, who went over two months without scoring a goal early in the season, it was his fourth goal since Dec. 19.

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Prospects Sergei Anshakov, Denis Grebeshkov and Mikhael Lyubushin won gold medals with Russia in the World Junior Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Grebeshkov, a 19-year old defenseman, led all players in plus/minus with plus 11.

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TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.

Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- American Airlines Center.

Radio -- KSPN (1110).

Records -- Kings 17-16-4-3, Stars 22-10-10-1.

Record vs. Stars -- 0-1.

Update -- Center Mike Modano has 15 goals and 42 points for Dallas, which has led the Pacific Division for most of the season under former King assistant Dave Tippett.

-- Lonnie White