Rangers top Kings in rematch of Stanley Cup Finals

Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Cam Talbot made 28 saves and the surging New York Rangers went into Staples Center and beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals.

The Kings led 2-0 early on a pair of first-period goals, but New York scored four straight to claim control. Justin Williams' second goal of the game with 4:03 remaining made it a one-goal game and LA went on a power play following Rick Nash's tripping penalty with 36 seconds left, but Talbot turned aside the only shot he saw before the final horn sounded.

"You never want to start a game like that, but it's a credit to the guys," said Talbot. "They showed a lot of character in coming back."

Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein, Lee Stempniak and Martin St. Louis lit the lamp for New York, winners in four straight and 12 of its last 13 games.

The Kings, meanwhile, are trending the opposite direction having lost four of five. Williams scored twice and Tanner Pearson found the back of the net while Jonathan Quick was responsible for all four goals on 26 shots.

"You can't give up four goals in a game and expect to win, ever," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter.

Derick Brassard won a faceoff back to Boyle midway through the first period, and Boyle's slap shot beat Quick and had New York within a goal.

The Rangers then erupted for three goals in the second. Klein's wrister from the point found its way past a screened Quick 2:31 into the period. Just 19 seconds later, Stempniak won a scrum behind the net, skated free and fired one in to make it 3-2.

St. Louis potted the eventual game-winning marker on a power play with 8:17 gone in the second. Brassard and Boyle had shots denied by Quick, but St. Louis had an open net to work with on his rebound.

Late in the third, Williams batted the puck out of the air and past Talbot to result for the final margin.

Early on, the defending Stanley Cup champs got goals 1:37 apart early in the first period. Jeff Carter led a 2-on-1 break and dropped a pass off to a cutting Pearson, who tapped in the game's first goal. Williams made it 2-0 with a slapper from the right circle that deflected off Talbot's glove.

Game Notes

The Kings won the 2014 Stanley Cup in five games ... LA went 0-for-4 on the power play ... Talbot has won four of his last five starts. He has three shutouts during that stretch.