"Add Marco Sturm's knee to Scott Parse's hip, Alexei Ponikarovsky's finger and Willie Mitchell's wrist on the list of injuries that aren't helping the Kings break out of their offensive slump.

The Kings helped themselves Thursday by beating the rebuilding Florida Panthers. The final result, a 3-2 win, ended the Kings' losing streak at four games and represented the most goals the Kings have scored in their last five games.

Goals by Peter Harrold and Anze Kopitar in the third period, and a 24-save effort by Jonathan Quick, left the announced crowd of 17,720 at Staples Center happy after the Kings were booed off the ice with the Panthers leading 2-1 after two periods.

"The best players came through at the end," head coach Terry Murray said. "That was great to see the winning goal and for Kopi to finish it off."

The Kings' Justin Williams opened the scoring in the first period, but Michal Repik and David Booth answered with goals for Florida, which has lost five of its past six games.

Harrold, an unheralded utility player subbing in on defense, scored his first goal of the season to tie the score at 2 early in the third period. A failed shot attempt by Kyle Clifford drew everyone to the front of the net, but the puck kicked out to Harrold in the slot. His high one-timer was too quick for Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun, who finished with 21 saves.

Kopitar's winning goal with 2:43 left on the clock was made possible by a faceoff win by Michal Handzus to Vokoun's left. The puck came to Dustin Brown at the right point and his one-timer was blocked by Vokoun, but Kopitar backhanded in the rebound to provide the final score.

"It was a huge relief," Kings defenseman Matt Greene said. "Over the last nine games we have been giving up those goals at the end of the game and those are back-breakers."

Added Murray, "I'm hoping that it's a breakthrough here - that the line can get building on that kind of momentum, that energy that happens off scoring that kind of goal."

For Kopitar and Brown's line to gain momentum, it might help to have a more consistent third linemate. Williams and Wayne Simmonds both took turns on the line, which nearly got a major facelift before the game began.

Reports of a trade that would have sent Sturm to the Kings from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a conditional draft pick barely got off the ground before both sides said there was no deal in place.

When healthy, the 32-year-old Sturm would give the Kings the experienced goal-scorer at left wing they have been seeking since the injuries to Ponikarovsky and Parse. Sturm has spent the entire season on long-term injured reserve after tearing both the ACL and the MCL in his right knee during last season's playoffs.

The trade is believed to have been all but done at one point, contingent only on Sturm passing a physical. That might have been asking too much, since Sturm only began practicing with the Bruins last week. Several reports suggested that the deal may hinge only on Sturm's recovery period, as Boston is looking to unload salary-cap space and Sturm would put the team over the salary cap once he is added to the roster."