Kings 3, Stars 2: Brad Richardson and Justin Williams scored 1:09 apart early in the third period and visiting Los Angeles held on to edge Dallas.

Jeff Carter also tallied and Jonathan Bernier made 13 saves for the Kings, who improved to 3-0-1 on their five-game road trip.

Carter opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the game as his backhander from the left faceoff circle deflected off Dallas defenseman Brenden Dillon and past Kari Lehtonen. Jamie Benn forged a tie with 6:44 remaining in the second, but Richardson put Los Angeles ahead for good at 5:40 of the third, when he beat Lehtonen from close range after a turnover.

Williams buried his own rebound on the doorstep shortly thereafter for a 3-1 lead. The Stars got within one on a blast by Ray Whitney from the top of the right circle during a power play with 8:56 left, but the Kings stood tall down the stretch and avoided blowing a 3-1 lead for the second straight night.

Defenseman Alex Goligoski collected two assists and Lehtonen turned aside 37 shots for Dallas, which is 2-2-0 on its five-game homestand.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles squandered a 3-1 advantage in the third period at Minnesota on Saturday and went on to suffer a 4-3 shootout loss. ... The Kings have won nine of their last 11 visits to Dallas. ... Los Angeles climbed within one point of idle Vancouver for fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Stars are two points behind Columbus for the eighth and final postseason berth in the West, as the Blue Jackets jumped past idle St. Louis with their overtime win over Anaheim.