KINGS 5, SHARKS 2: Mike Richards and Anze Kopitar each recorded a goal and two assists as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to five games with a triumph over visiting San Jose.

Defenseman Alec Martinez, Dustin Penner and Jeff Carter also scored and Jonathan Quick made 20 saves for the Kings, who improved to 2-0-0 on their four-game homestand.

Los Angeles, which has allowed two goals or less in winning five straight at the Staples Center, climbed past Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings jumped out to a 1-0 lead while shorthanded late in the first period.

With Kopitar in the penalty box for goalie interference, Richards carried the puck down the left wing during a 2-on-1 rush and beat Antti Niemi from the inner edge of the faceoff circle. It was Richards' second goal in three contests following a 25-game drought and his 26th career shorthanded tally.

Richards is third among active players in shorthanded goals behind Boston's Brian Rolston (33) and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis (28).

The lead lasted just 22 seconds as Martin Havlat cashed in during the power play. Havlat had his initial shot from the top of the slot blocked but fired his second attempt past Quick for his fourth goal in three games.

Martinez restored the Kings' advantage with 4:11 remaining in the second. Kopitar made a backhand pass from behind the net to Martinez, who beat Niemi from low in the left circle for his second in three contests.

The assist gave Kopitar at least one point in 10 of his last 11 games.

Kopitar made it 4-2 exactly four minutes into the third during a 4-on-3 power play, ripping a wrist shot past Niemi from the top of the right circle to extend his goal-scoring streak to four contests.

Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle answered less than three minutes later as he converted a cross-slot pass from Logan Couture from the right circle. But Penner beat Niemi from the left circle with just over four minutes left and Carter added an empty-netter in the final seconds to seal the win.

Havlat added an assist for his third consecutive two-point performance and Niemi stopped 37 shots for the Sharks, who have lost 14 of 19 overall and six of seven on the road. San Jose, which is two points out of a playoff spot, has scored three goals or less in each of its last 18 contests.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kings captain Dustin Brown notched an assist on Kopitar's goal, giving him 18 points over his last 14 games. ... Los Angeles has won eight of its last 11 contests. ... Carter has scored six goals in 12 games since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets. ... The Sharks and Kings conclude the regular season with a home-and-home series.