"One of the trademark signs of true stars is their impeccable timing.

After the Blue Jackets' key grips and stage hands kept them alive in a fierce struggle with one of the Western Conference's better clubs, it was captain Rick Nash who came up large late in the game.

Nash's goal with 3:12 remaining sent the Blue Jackets to a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings before 18,118 in the Staples Center last night.

His empty-net goal - scored from his own end with 37.2 remaining - provided the final score.

The Kings were the NHL's last unbeaten team at home, having won their first eight games. They hadn't given up more than three goals in a home game until last night, either.

Andrew Murray, Rostislav Klesla and Jared Boll added goals for the Blue Jackets, and goaltender Steve Mason - despite some shaky rebounds - earned the win with 36 saves.

Until Nash's goal for a 4-3 lead, the Blue Jackets' top two lines had been invisible. Dorsett and Murray, among the forwards, were the Blue Jackets' top players for the first 57 minutes.

But that all changed when Derick Brassard fired a sharp pass across the offensive zone to Nash, who deked his way around Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske and beat goaltender Jonathan Quick with a wrister.

The Kings - with their goaltender pulled - had the Jackets under much durress in the ensuing two minutes until R.J. Umberger picked off a pass and tapped it over to Nash. With a clear view to the Kings goal - way, way away - Nash wristed the puck 160 feet, dead-center into the net.

The Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead at 7:40 of the first period when Murray scored his first of the season."