Kings’ late rally stuns Stars, 4-2

DALLAS -- Lubomir Visnovsky scored the go-ahead goal with 2:06 left after Michal Handzus had tied it 55 seconds earlier, and the Kings rallied for a 4-2 victory over the fading Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Dallas dropped its fourth in a row, matching its longest losing streak of the season. The Stars have been outscored, 11-0, in the third period of their last six games, 8-0 in the final period during the current slide.

Sitting on a late lead hasn’t been working for the Stars, who usually are able to protect advantages down the stretch.

“It’s a cliche, but it’s a 60-minute game,” Dallas center Steve Ott said. “Fifty-five minutes isn’t good enough, especially against a young, hungry team. For some reason we’re not finishing out games.”

Dallas had won 13 of 15 before this slump knocked the Stars out of the Pacific Division lead. San Jose and the Ducks have passed them in the standings.

Handzus scored another goal with 1:19 left to give the Kings a two-goal cushion.

Stu Barnes’ second-period goal put Dallas ahead, 2-1, and the Stars seemed on the verge of ending their skid. But Handzus stole the puck from defenseman Trevor Daley and scored from the slot at 16:59 to tie it, 2-2.

Visnovsky then put the Kings in front at 17:54 when his shot from the left point eluded goalie Marty Turco, who was screened.

Handzus scored off a rebound at 18:41 for his seventh goal.

Brenden Morrow added a power-play goal for Dallas.

The Stars had victories in seven consecutive home games against the Kings and were 11-1-2 overall against them the last two seasons.

Rob Blake had a power-play goal for the Kings, who have the fewest points in the NHL.

“Our fate has kind of been written,” Blake said.

“We’re out of the playoffs. We want a little respect and I think we got that today.”

Said Kings Coach Marc Crawford: “We look at these games as our playoffs because the games are so meaningful [for opponents]. Dallas wants home ice in the playoffs and we’re using the games to help our young players develop.”