Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Jarret Stoll scored the game-winner in the third period and Jonathan Quick was solid with 31 saves, as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-1, at Staples Center.
Ryan Smyth tallied two goals and an assist for the Kings, who won their home opener after starting the season by splitting a pair of road games.
Chris Thorburn scored for Atlanta, which fell to 1-2-0 on the young season.
Atlanta goaltender Chris Mason allowed two goals on 34 shots in the loss. The Thrashers will remain in California for games against the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks before they return home to host the Sabres on October 20.
Trailing 1-0 in the third period, the Kings scored twice in a 2:17 span.
First, at the 3:53 mark, Smyth's rebound marker from the left post knotted the contest. Anze Kopitar centered the puck from behind the net along the right rear boards and it hit skates and sticks in front before Smyth swooped in and punched it home with a backhander.
Soon after, the Kings moved ahead. Stoll skated down the right-wing side and, from the circle, released a wrist shot. Atlanta defenseman Ron Hainsey tried to block the attempt with his stick, but instead turned the shot into a soft floater and the change of speed fooled Mason as the puck sailed into the far side of the net at 6:10.
Midway through the final period, the Thrashers gained a power play due to a slashing minor on Brad Richardson but failed to cash in.
Nicklas Bergfors missed an opportunity for the equalizer when his one-timer snap shot from near the top of the crease was saved by Quick with under six minutes remaining.
Mason was pulled for the extra attacker inside the final minute, but Smyth's empty-netter with 29.8 seconds remaining sealed the victory.
Atlanta opened the scoring at the 2:26 mark of the second period on Thorburn's second goal of the season. He picked up the puck in the neutral zone, split the defenders and skated in on a partial breakaway. Thorburn's wrister from the low slot was saved by Quick, but the rebound was kicked out and Thorburn followed his shot before he swiped it into the net from the bottom of the right circle.
With less than a minute to go before the second intermission, LA nearly found the scoreboard on a 3-on-2 rush, but Smyth's slap shot from above the left circle missed the far post by inches. Mason was heavily screened on the play.
LA suffered another near-miss early in the third frame when Drew Doughty hit the post with a wrister from the left point.
The teams combined to go scoreless of seven total power-play chances, five of which were awarded to the Thrashers...Justin Williams posted two assists.