One successful finish off a two-on-one does not erase about a year of star-crossed misery.

At least, for the Kings' Dustin Penner, it represented a start.

Penner's goal in the third period against Nashville on Saturday put the Kings ahead for good and ignited a three-goal outburst from them en route to a 4-2 win over the Predators at Staples Center.

They have won four straight games and the surge keeps them in the midst of the packed Western Conference race, a battle seemingly changing by the hour.