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Kings beat Predators, snap 4-game skid heading…

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Los Angeles Kings |
Kings beat Predators, snap 4-game skid heading into All-Star break

Alex Turcotte records his first NHL goal and assist as the Kings win for just the third time in the past 17 games, 4-2. Carl Grundstrom, Trevor Lewis and Kevin Fiala (empty net) also score and Dave Rittich has 38 saves.

Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, congratulates center Trevor Lewis, left, after he scored a goal during the third period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. Turcotte had his first career NHL goal and assist as the Kings won, 4-2. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, congratulates center Trevor Lewis, left, after he scored a goal during the third period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. Turcotte had his first career NHL goal and assist as the Kings won, 4-2. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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  • Kings goaltender David Rittich defends the goal during the second...

    Kings goaltender David Rittich defends the goal during the second period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom shoots the puck to score...

    Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom shoots the puck to score a goal past Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh, left, during the first period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom, left, celebrates his goal with...

    Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom, left, celebrates his goal with center Alex Turcotte during the first period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh, left, knocks the puck away...

    Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh, left, knocks the puck away from Kings center Trevor Lewis during the first period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros blocks a shot on goal...

    Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros blocks a shot on goal during the first period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom, left, skates the puck past...

    Kings right wing Carl Grundstrom, left, skates the puck past Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista during the first period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin, left, and Kings right wing...

    Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin, left, and Kings right wing Quinton Byfield chase a loose puck during the second period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings goaltender David Rittich deflects a shot on goal during...

    Kings goaltender David Rittich deflects a shot on goal during the second period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin, right, and Kings defenseman Jordan...

    Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin, right, and Kings defenseman Jordan Spence chase a loose puck during the second period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings center Alex Turcotte, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring...

    Kings center Alex Turcotte, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his first career goal during the second period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, right, hits the puck past...

    Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, right, hits the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie, left, during the third period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, center, celebrates with teammates...

    Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, congratulates center Trevor Lewis, left,...

    Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, congratulates center Trevor Lewis, left, after he scored a goal during the third period of their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. Turcotte had his first career NHL goal and assist as the Kings won, 4-2. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, right, hits the puck past Nashville...

    Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, right, hits the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh, left, during the third period on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Nashville Predators center Philip Tomasino, center, celebrates with teammates after...

    Nashville Predators center Philip Tomasino, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings left wing Kevin Fiala warms up before their game...

    Kings left wing Kevin Fiala warms up before their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

  • Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois warms up before their game against...

    Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois warms up before their game against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The slumping Kings found something to feel good about going into the All-Star break.

Alex Turcotte had his first NHL goal and assist and the Kings beat the Nashville Predators, 4-2, on Wednesday night to snap a four-game skid in the final game for both teams before the NHL All-Star break.

Playing his second NHL game of the season and 14th overall, Turcotte – the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft – made it 2-0 in the second period and had an assist on Trevor Lewis’ goal with 6:39 left that helped the Kings win for just the third time in 17 games.

Turcotte said the goal was so exciting he kind of “blacked out” for a bit.

“Just a big relief. It was all Mooresey,” Turcotte said of Trevor Moore’s assist. “He made a great play through the neutral zone, and I just kind of found the opening. It got to me and just ripped it. I was fortunate for it to go in. It was awesome.”

Kings coach Todd McLellan, whose job security has been questioned, noted his team hasn’t quit.

“We still have a long way to go get our game back, but to go into the break feeling a little bit good about ourselves is a real good thing,” McLellan said.

Dave Rittich, who played 17 games for Nashville in the 2021-22 season, made 38 saves to improve to 5-1-3 this season.

Carl Grundstrom also scored and Kevin Fiala added an empty-netter.

Filip Forsberg tried to rally Nashville with his 24th goal of the season at 5:15 of the third. Philip Tomasino scored his seventh with 3:24 to go, pulling the Preds to 3-2. Nashville snapped a six-game home points streak against the Kings.

Nashville didn’t seem to be the team for the Kings to beat with the Predators taking the first game in Los Angeles on Jan. 18. Nashville had won 12 of 15 between the teams, losing only three times in regulation in the last 27 games going 17-3-7 coming in.

The Kings gave themselves some breathing room with two crucial points after coming in holding the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, tied with St. Louis and Nashville with 54 points. Nashville has lost three straight (0-2-1), and the Predators didn’t help themselves going 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

Grundstrom put the Kings up with his eighth goal this season, a wrister over Juuse Saros’ glove into the far corner at 8:51 of the first period.

Then Turcotte scored at 5:36 on a wrister as he skated through the left circle and put the puck over Saros’ glove to extend the Kings’ lead to 2-0. Trevor Lewis broke away from the celebration quickly to grab the puck for Turcotte.

“To see how happy they were was obviously really special too,” Turcotte said. “It’s just really cool. I’ll never forget it and it’s something I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life.”

The Predators thought they answered quickly with Tyson Barrie scoring his second goal of the season in his 800th NHL game, but the Kings challenged for goaltender interference and won, wiping the goal off the board.

Nashville coach Andrew Brunette thinks the Predators are close after playing six of their last eight games on the road and just need to keep knocking on the door.

“We’re really kicking the crap out of it,” Brunette said. “It just hasn’t opened.”

UP NEXT

The Kings host Edmonton when they return from the All-Star break on Feb. 10.

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