As it turns out, the Kings didn't needed to acquire a top-flight scorer in the off-season, they just needed one of their own to return to past form.

Justin Williams, a two-time 30-goal scorer for Carolina, has seemingly regained his form after three injury-plagued seasons as evident by the goal he scored Thursday night as Los Angeles blanked Tampa Bay, 1-0.

Williams has showed only flashes of his previous scoring touch in his two plus seasons in L.A. but this year his hot start -- goals in four straight and a team-high six on the season -- is one of the big reasons the Kings are leading the NHL in wins (nine) and points (18).

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Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Justin Williams scored the only goal of the game and Jonathan Quick stopped all 24 shots he faced in Los Angeles's 1-0 decision over Tampa Bay at Staples Center.

Ryan Smyth set up the game-winning tally for the Kings, who beat the visitors on home ice for the first time since November 6, 1997 at the Great Western Forum.

Quick improved to 8-1-0 on the season with his ninth career shutout for the hosts, who have won their initial five home games for the first time since 1980-81.

"It's a team effort. You just look at the way we played tonight, it's one of the top offenses in the league and they didn't get too many quality scoring chances," Quick said. "We were extremely responsible in the defensive zone and we were smart and didn't take too many penalties."

Mike Smith was the hard-luck loser, turning away 25 shots in defeat for the Lightning, who have dropped two in a row following wins in three out of four.

Anze Kopitar was denied by a sprawling Smith on a short-handed breakaway with about nine minutes left in the second period to keep the game scoreless.

LA finally broke through with 14:40 to play in the game

Mathieu Roy's attempted outlet pass hit Dana Tyrell's skate and was picked up by Smyth just inside the Bolts blueline. Smith backhanded a pass that Williams received on his backhand with his back to the net. Williams then spun to his forehand and slipped a shot past Smith to match a career-best with a goal in four straight games.

"They got an extra break at the end there in the third and got a goal but it was a hard fought game by both teams," Smith said. "Just because they beat us doesn't mean we're a bad hockey team. Tonight wasn't our night, but I think we'll be better because of this game."

Tampa Bay pulled Smith with 50 seconds to play for the extra attacker but could not muster a good scoring chance over the next 20 seconds before the Kings cleared the zone.

The Lightning got the puck back in the attack zone for Martin St. Louis, who was denied on a wrister from the bottom of the right circle with 16 ticks to go. Tampa Bay sent a couple of shots toward the next in the final seconds but could not dent Quick.

The Kings were 0-5-2 against the Lightning at Staples Center before Thursday. Williams also tallied in four straight contests from December 19-26, 2006...He has scored 11 points in his last 10 games while Smyth has totaled eight points in his last 10 matches...Jarret Stoll, the third member of that line, picked up an assist and now has 11 points in his last 10 games...Quick is tied with Mario Lessard for the sixth most shutouts in team history...LA defenseman Drew Doughty returned to the lineup after missing the last six games because of a concussion...The Kings are off to their second best 12-game start in franchise history with 18 points...The best 12-game start came in 1980-81 when they went 10-1-1 for 21 points...Smith suffered his first loss in six starts against the Kings...The Lightning are 4-2-1 on the road.

Portland, OR (Sports Network) - James Harden's three-point play midway through overtime gave the Thunder the lead, and Oklahoma City held Portland to just one field goal in the extra session to steal a 107-106 decision in a Northwest Division-showdown at the Rose Garden.

Russell Westbrook dropped 28 points to go with 11 rebounds and five assists for the Thunder, who were coming off consecutive double-digit losses to the Jazz and Clippers. Kevin Durant ended with 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeff Green added 19 and nine in the comeback win.

Portland, coming off a successful 3-1 road trip, led by as many as 13 in the second half but shot 1-for-7 in overtime to come out on the losing end. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 22 points, while Brandon Roy scored 19 on 6-of-17 shooting.

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Josh Nesbitt, a three-year starter and the key cog in Georgia Tech's triple option offense, is likely out for the season with an arm injury suffered in the second quarter of a ACC matchup with Virginia Tech, although the school won't confirm anything regarding Nesbitt's status until after the game.

Nesbitt was a 1,000-yard rusher a season ago and has rushed for 651 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games this year. He's also passed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored all 23 of his points in a dominant first half, leading the Los Angeles Lakers in a 124-105 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center.

Former Memphis forward Pau Gasol added 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for the Lakers, who improved to 4-0 on the young season. Lamar Odom contributed with 17 points, eight boards and six assists in the resounding win.

Rudy Gay had 30 points to lead all scorers for Memphis, which has split its first four games of the season. Mike Conley, fresh off signing a multi-year extension, chipped in with 16 points in defeat. Marc Gasol posted 11 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies.

Los Angeles never trailed in the game, taking control from the beginning.

The Lakers began the contest on a 13-2 surge, capped by a Bryant 21-foot jumper five minutes into the game. The lead extended to 26-15 after a pair of free throws from Odom, and it was 34-23 after 12 minutes.

The advantage ballooned when Los Angeles scored 19 of the first 24 points in the second quarter, with Odom's triple giving the Lakers a commanding 53-28 advantage. Bryant had 23 points in the first half, helping LA take a 73-46 lead into the locker room.

The Grizzlies trimmed their deficit all the way to 14 at 81-67 after Gay made a pair of free throws with five minutes left in the third, but the Lakers took a comfortable 97-76 cushion into the fourth.

The game's outcome was not in question in the final 12 minutes.

The Lakers have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Grizzlies, including four straight at home...Memphis forward Zach Randolph (back) did not play...LA shot 51.2 percent, including 14-of-23 from three-point range.

Drew Doughty, who suffered a concussion Oct. 20 against Carolina, was cleared by team medical personnel to return to action, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

Doughy will likely play Thursday when the Kings, the NHL leader in wins (8) and points (16), take on the Lightning, one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

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(Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant has been struggling with a balky right knee but that hasn't stopped the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers from opening the season in positive fashion.

In fact the Lakers will aim to remain perfect on the young campaign Tuesday when they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to Staples Center.

LA improved to 3-0 on Sunday when Pau Gasol scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, as the Lakers dominated the Golden State Warriors, 107-83.

Bryant added 20 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who have won three in a row to begin the season for the first time since winning seven straight to commence the 2008-09 campaign. Lamar Odom chipped in 16 points and 14 rebounds.

"Other than our 20 turnovers, we weren't bad tonight. We got loose balls and some easy baskets," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said.

Bryant, who underwent surgery on the knee for a third time this offseason, jokingly told the media: "Leave me the (heck) alone about my (expletive) knee."

In response, Jackson told the team's website, "I'm pleased with the progress of Kobe, it looks like his offense is coming along. Defensively he still is working on some things that he has to get done with his strength and base. He's not 100 percent but that's good of him to say it. Offensively he looks fine."

Memphis, which opens a four-game road trip tonight, is coming off a blowout win over Minnesota on Saturday. Mike Conley stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and seven of a franchise-record 22 steals, as the Grizzlies rolled to a 109-89 win.

O.J. Mayo had 29 points, while Rudy Gay chipped in 25 for the Grizzlies, who were coming off a one-point win at Dallas Friday. Conley tied his own franchise record for steals in a game and equaled a career-high in assists.

"I think it's effort," coach Lionel Hollins said. "It's getting back to what we do. We had some consistency with our effort."

On the injury front for Memphis, power forward Zach Randolph is questionable for tonight's game with a bruised lower back, while rookie guard Xavier Henry is probable with a strained neck.

The Grizzlies, who will also face Golden State, Phoenix and Sacramento on their trek, will be shooting for their first 3-1 start since the 2005-06 campaign, the last time the franchise made the postseason.

The Lakers have taken six of their past seven meetings with Memphis, which is winless in its last three as the guest in this series.

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Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Alexander Steen scored his first goal of the season and Jaroslav Halak turned away 24 shots in St. Louis' 3-0 victory over Nashville at Bridgestone Arena.

Halak recorded his second straight and 11th career shutout while Patrik Berglund and Matt D'Agostini scored the other goals for the Blues, who earned their first road win of the season.

Pekka Rinne allowed all three goals on 34 shots to suffer his first regulation loss of the season for the Predators, who have dropped four of their last six games.

After a scoreless first period, Steen netted a shorthand marker to give the Blues a 1-0 lead with just over seven minutes left in the middle session. David Perron passed from behind the net to the top of the crease where Steen one-timed a wrister past Rinne.

The visitors pushed their lead to 2-0 with 7:12 remaining in the game. Andy McDonald came down the right side and had his slap shot stopped by Rinne but the rebound came to right to Berglund in the slot and he drilled it into the open net.

David Backes fed from behind the net to D'Agostini as he was moving to the top of the crease, and his one-timer through the five-hole made it 3-0 with 4:45 to play.

Steen had gone 12 straight games without a goal dating back to April 1 of last season...He had taken 27 shots entering the game without a goal, only Ollie Jokinen of Calgary had taken more, 28, without finding the back of the net. Halak has gone 154:35 of game time since allowing his last goal...He is 3-1-0 in four career games against the Preds...St. Louis center T.J. Oshie had an assist on the last goal and has recorded a point in a career-best seven straight games...The Blues were 1-for-5 on the power play and have notched a goal with the man advantage in six of their eight games...The teams have split the first two of six meetings this year...Rinne is 7-3-1 in his career against the Blues...The Preds have allowed only one first period goal in their last six games.

Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Russell Wilson's touchdown pass to George Bryan with 2:40 left put North Carolina State in front, and the Wolfpack recovered a Christian Ponder fumble inside the final minute to secure a 28-24 victory over 16th-ranked Florida State.

The Seminoles drove down the field following Bryan's catch and got into scoring position, as Ponder's eight-yard rush set up a 1st-and-goal. But on second down, Ponder brushed his running back's side as he dropped back on a play-fake and lost control of the ball. Linebacker Nate Irving recovered with 49 seconds left, and NC State ran out the clock from there.

Wilson completed 18-of-28 passes for 178 yards, with one interception. He also ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolfpack (6-2, 3-1 ACC), who rebounded from an overtime loss at East Carolina two Saturdays ago.

Ponder threw for 196 yards and a score, while running for two more touchdowns for the Seminoles (6-2, 4-1), who had won their last five.

Florida State used a big second quarter to take a 21-7 halftime lead, but NC State began its comeback shortly into the third. The Wolfpack began the quarter with the ball and went on a 13-play, 68-yard drive that lasted nearly five minutes, and which Wilson ended with a 10-yard run across the goal line.

Ponder fumbled two plays into the Seminoles' ensuing drive, allowing NC State to take over at the FSU 22. On third down, Wilson ran it in from the 20 to suddenly create a 21-21 tie.

The Wolfpack threatened again on a drive that spanned into the fourth quarter, but on 2nd-and-10 from the FSU 11, Wilson was picked off by Xavier Rhodes. The Seminoles drove 59 yards the other way, reaching the NC State 13 for a 4th- and-1. They elected to attempt a 31-yard field goal, which Dustin Hopkins booted through the uprights with 9:07 left.

But NC State followed with a lengthy and daring drive, which started at its own 30. The Wolfpack got across midfield before facing a 4th-and-4 at the FSU 36, and Wilson converted it with a 35-yard strike to Darrell Davis.

The touchdown was not a foregone conclusion, though, as Wilson was stuffed twice before James Washington was held to no gain. But on 4th-and-goal from the one, Wilson found Bryan open in the end zone, capping a drive that lasted more than six minutes.

The Seminoles began their last-chance drive at their own 29 and made it downfield in big gains. Ponder's 18-yard pass to Willie Haulstead moved the ball near midfield, and his 29-yard completion to Taiwan Easterling later in the drive put the ball at the 21 for a fresh set of downs, setting up the final dramatics.

After FSU punted on the game's opening possession, the Wolfpack drove 51 yards for a score, as Wilson got into the end zone from a yard out.

Neither team scored again until the second quarter, when the Seminoles quickly got three touchdowns. Ponder's three-yard rush with 7:12 left ended an eight- play, 75-yard drive to tie the game, and Florida State got another chance after Dean Haynes fumbled on the first play of the next drive.

The 'Noles set up at the NC State 18 and needed five plays to score, getting into the end zone on Ponder's two-yard run with 4:54 on the clock.

Florida State went 72 yards on its next touch, and Ponder's 11-yard TD pass to Haulstead made it a 21-7 game with 47 seconds remaining.

Ty Jones ran for 108 yards for Florida State, while Ponder completed 17-of-28 passes. He was also sacked three times. Bert Reed had six receptions for 87 yards to lead FSU receivers...Mustafa Greene led NC State with 76 rushing yards on 17 carries...Both teams are back in action on November 6. NC State plays at Clemson, while FSU hosts North Carolina.

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Orlando Magic to a dominating 112-83 victory over the Washington Wizards in the teams' season-opener.

The game marked the NBA debut of Wizards guard John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. Wall finished with 14 points and nine assists, showing flashes of the open-court skill that he so often employed at Kentucky, but made only 6-of-19 field goals.

Orlando had control the entire game, finishing with a rebounding advantage of 53-25 and shooting 55.8 percent from the field, thanks to a number of field goals close to the basket.

Vince Carter added 18 points and five rebounds for the Magic, who are coming off a 59-win season and appearance in the Eastern Conference finals. Jameer Nelson ended with 16 points and six assists.

Offseason acquisition Kirk Hinrich had 12 points for Washington, which shot 37.2 percent and grabbed just three offensive rebounds. The Wizards were playing without guard Gilbert Arenas, who is out for the first two games of the season because of a strained ankle tendon.

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Steve Blake made the game-winning three- pointer with 18.8 seconds remaining, as the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers snuck past the Houston Rockets, 112-110, in the season opener for both teams.

The Lakers needed seven games to beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals last season. Prior to Tuesday's game, Los Angeles raised its 16th championship banner to the rafters and received its rings.

Blake, who spent last season with the Clippers and Trail Blazers, ended with 10 points off the bench for the Lakers, who got 29 points and 11 rebounds from Pau Gasol. Kobe Bryant tallied 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.

"A great way to start the season," Blake said. "In the third quarter we started playing defense. Shannon (Brown) made big shots. I think the bench did their job tonight."

Kevin Martin finished with 26 points in his Rockets debut. Aaron Brooks scored 24 points and dished out nine assists. Luis Scola had 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Yao Ming, who was playing in a meaningful game for the first time since breaking his foot against the Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals back in the 2008-09 campaign, chipped in with nine points and 11 boards.

The Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in four years last season and added big man Brad Miller in the offseason. Miller had nine points and nine rebounds off the bench.

"We had a 10 or 12 point lead then we stopped moving the ball," Rockets head coach Rick Adelman said. "We made mental mistakes."

Trailing by six, 86-80, early in the fourth, the Lakers ripped off 12 consecutive points. Shannon Brown had five points during the burst that Blake capped with a free throw for a 92-86 lead with under eight minutes to play.

Martin's three-point play had Houston within one, 92-91, but Gasol made a free throw and Brown made a pair of three-pointers to give Los Angeles a 99-91 margin with 5 1/2 minutes to go.

Trailing 107-102, the Rockets scored six straight points to make things interesting. Miller made two free throws to give Houston a 108-107 lead with 53.9 ticks remaining.

The margin was the same following buckets from Gasol and Scola. Blake then drilled a key three-pointer to give the Lakers a 112-110 edge with 18.8 seconds to go.

Scola missed a layup at the opposite end of the floor. Replay was used to determine who knocked the ball out on the rebounds. The refs gave the ball to Houston following the review with 2.4 ticks left.

Brooks failed to get a good shot off under the basket with two Los Angeles players all over him.

The Rockets controlled the first half and took a 62-51 lead into the locker room.

Blake made back-to-back three-pointers at the end of the third to get Los Angeles within five, 82-77.

"We didn't play with the right tempo in the first half," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, a winner of 11 NBA titles as a coach. "The second half was a rally half for us. When Steve and Shannon came in it changed the game."

Los Angeles took three of four meetings with Houston last season and has won eight of the past nine matchups between the teams...The Lakers have won their last three season openers...Lakers center Andrew Bynum is still recovering from knee surgery...Houston turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 20 Los Angeles points.

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Miami's triumvirate of superstars was unable to overcome the strong team play of Boston in the much anticipated season-opener Tuesday night.

As a result, writes Jeff Clark of SB Nation's Celtics Blog, the road to the Finals still comes through Boston.

The reason, for one night at least, is simple: balance. The Celtics had it; the Heat, which relied heavily on LeBron James, did not.

James scored 31 points in his debut for Miami but only one other Heat player was in double figures. Celtics had four players in double figures, led by Ray Allen's 20.

5 still beats 1.

Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Daniel Alfredsson completed a hat trick and recorded his 1,000th career point with an empty-net goal in the final minute, sealing the Ottawa Senators' 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

The 37-year-old Swede, who has spent his entire 15-season career with Ottawa, recorded his eighth career hat trick.

Ryan Shannon also scored for the Senators, who have won their last five games in Buffalo. Brian Elliott made 34 saves, including 20 in the third period, to help Ottawa snap a two-game slide.

Tim Connolly scored both goals for Buffalo, which fell to 2-5-1 this season. Ryan Miller allowed three goals on 31 shots in the setback.

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Drew Doughty will not play Thursday in Phoenix due to the upper body injury suffered in the first period against Carolina, L.A. coach Terry Murray said in a post-game interview.

Doughty could join the team later in the five-game road trip, Murray said.

Los Angeles Kings standout defenseman Drew Doughty, who has missed only one game in his two plus seasons in the NHL, left Thursday game against Carolina with "an upper body" injury, the team announced. Doughty is not expected to return.

Doughty, a Norris finalist a season ago, played just under seven minutes in the first period and did not return to the ice after the second period intermission.

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Patrick Kane scored the decisive goal in the shootout, lifting Chicago to a 2-1 win over Vancouver.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp also lit the lamp during the shootout, while Viktor Stalberg scored in regulation for the Blackhawks, who won their fourth straight game after losing three of four to begin the season.

Kane sent a backhand attempt at Roberto Luongo and the puck trickled under the Vancouver netminder's pads and into the net near the right post in the shootout.

Mikael Samuelsson had an opportunity to extend it, but his backhand was wide of the net. Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler scored earlier in the shootout.

Marty Turco stood tall with 36 saves for Chicago, which won the battle in the rematch of last season's Western Conference semifinals.

Luongo made 31 stops for the Canucks, who got the tying tally on the power play, one minute into the third from Sedin. The Canucks lost for the fourth time in five tries.

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Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Tim Thomas stopped 35-of-36 shots and Milan Lucic added a goal and one assist as Boston downed Washington, 3-1, in the front end of a home-and-home series at Verizon Center.

David Krejci posted a goal and a helper and Matt Hunwick also tallied for the Bruins, who ended their season-opening road swing at 4-1.

Marcus Johansson notched his first NHL goal for the Capitals, whose four-game win streak was halted.

Michal Neuvirth took the loss although he was pulled after playing nearly 13 minutes and allowing two goals on seven shots. Semyon Varlamov yielded one score on 14 shots the rest of the way.

Hunwick drilled a shot by Varlamov at the 2:08 mark of the third period and the Bruins led 3-1.

Washington had a goal wiped out at the midway point of the third, when Alex Ovechkin was ruled to have knocked in an airborne puck from a John Carlson point drive with his gloved hand.

The Caps got a break when Bruins forward Gregory Campbell was given a double- minor for high sticking with 1:20 remaining, but the home team couldn't muster much offense despite a 6-on-4 advantage.

Boston took a 1-0 lead at the 9:12 mark of the first as Krejci finished off a 2-on-1 by tipping home a Nathan Horton pass inside the left post.

Lucic doubled the advantage less than three minutes later as he faked a shot in the right circle, pulled Neuvirth toward him, and slipped the puck along the ice and in.

Despite failing to capitalize on a brief two-man advantage early in the second, the Capitals halved their deficit at 7:42 as Jason Chimera fed Johansson for a tap-in.

The Bruins finally return home from their long road trip by hosting Washington on Thursday. Boston's intercontinental journey began in Northern Ireland for the end of their exhibition schedule, then wound up in the Czech Republic for two games with Phoenix to start the regular season, then came to Newark and Washington, DC...It was the Capitals' first loss since a season-opening defeat in Atlanta...Thomas has won his first three starts of a season for the first time in his career...Johansson was Washington's first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2009 draft.

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Zach Collaros threw three of his career-high five touchdown passes to Armon Binns, as the Cincinnati Bearcats took down the Louisville Cardinals, 35-27, in Big East action from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Collaros completed 18-of-28 passes for 275 yards and two interceptions for the Bearcats (3-3, 1-0 Big East), who have now won 13 straight conference games. Binns caught eight passes for 175 yards.

D.J. Woods hauled in two touchdown passes totaling 61 yards, and Isaiah Pead carried the ball 21 times for 145 yards for Cincinnati, which has won three consecutive games against Louisville.

Adam Froman connected on 18-of-27 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals (3-3, 0-1), who were trying for their first three-game winning streak since the 2008 season.

Bilal Powell carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns.

Trailing 24-21, Cincinnati put together a 14-play, 77-yard drive on its second possession of the third quarter. The Bearcats converted on three third downs during the march that lasted over six minutes. Woods capped the series with a 14-yard catch in the middle of the end zone for a 28-24 lead with 2:51 to go.

Collaros was intercepted by Darius Ashley on the first play of the fourth. Louisville cut the gap to 28-27 with Chris Philpott's 37-yard field goal.

Cincinnati responded with a five-play, 74-yard drive. Faced with a 3rd-and-9, Collaros and Binns hooked up on a 62-yard score to make it a 35-27 contest with over nine minutes to play.

The Cardinals marched the ball down to the Cincinnati eight-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a four-yard loss on a run by Powell set up a 4th-and- goal from the 12. Froman's pass to Josh Bellamy was broken up by Camerron Cheatham.

The Bearcats scored on their first offensive play to get a high-scoring first quarter started. Collaros rolled to his right and threw a 47-yard TD pass to Woods.

Philpott missed a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing Louisville possession, but Greg Scruggs' interception gave the Cardinals' offense the ball back. Josh Chichester made it a 7-7 game with an 11-yard touchdown catch.

Cincinnati responded with a nine-play drive that Binns capped with a 10- yard score for a 14-7 lead. However, Powell's sensational 85-yard touchdown run quickly tied things up again with 1:20 left in the first.

Louisville bridged the first and second frames with a seven-play drive, which Philpott capped with a 26-yard field goal for a 17-14 margin. The Cardinals built a 10-point lead with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that featured a trio of third-down conversions. Powell ended the march with a nine-yard TD run to make it 24-14 with 5:33 to go until half.

Binns' 31-yard touchdown catch with 3:46 remaining made it a 24-21 game at the break.

Philpott missed a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Phil Kessel scored twice, including the game- winner on the power play 3:08 into overtime, as Toronto remained perfect on the season with a 4-3 win to spoil the home opener of the New York Rangers.

Clarke MacArthur and Mike Komisarek also lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 1993-94 season, when they won a franchise-record 10 straight games to start the campaign.

"We've had a good start, but we have to keep building," Kessel said. "We gave up a two-goal lead and have to work on that now."

MacArthur, who had 16 goals all of last season, has five through four games already in his first year with the Maple Leafs. He became the first player in Leafs history to score in each of his first four games of the season.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves to get the win.

In overtime, Marc Staal was whistled for interference, and Toronto scored just 20 seconds after the infraction. Tyler Bozak sent the puck to Kessel in the left circle and his shot went past a screened Henrik Lundqvist.

Brian Boyle scored twice in a 4:09 span in the third period for the Rangers, who won at Buffalo and then lost to the Islanders in their first two games. Michal Rozsival also scored, while Sean Avery added two assists in defeat. Lundqvist made 34 saves.

The Rangers were also hit with a dose of bad news following the game. Head coach John Tortorella announced captain Chris Drury will be out about six weeks after he suffered a broken left finger for the second time in as many months. The Blueshirts will also be without right wing Marian Gaborik for 2-to-3 weeks due to a separated left shoulder.

Toronto's Colby Armstrong drilled Gaborik from behind early in the second period and was given a boarding penalty. Drury was making his season debut Friday after suffering a broken left index finger during training camp. He broke the same finger on a collision with Rozsival Friday night. Tortorella said left wing Vinny Prospal will have right knee surgery Tuesday and is out indefinitely.

Rozsival scored on a wrister from above the right circle 7:58 into the game, and the Rangers kept the lead through the opening period thanks to Lundqvist. He made 16 saves in the stanza, including robbing Bozak with six minutes remaining.

MacArthur tied the game 2:04 into the second by depositing a loose puck in front past Lundqvist, and Komisarek was credited with the go-ahead tally nearly three minutes later as he whistled a shot from above the right circle into the net.

Kessel's first goal came at the 7:50 mark, a deflection in front after a great pass from Bozak in the left circle.

Boyle got the Rangers within a goal 2:10 into the third, as his shot from near the right circle deflected off the stick of Toronto defenseman Dion Phaneuf and past Giguere.

The Rangers killed off a 5-on-3 power play for the Leafs, which occurred in part to Avery's slashing penalty as he whacked at Komisarek's leg twice far away from the play along the boards. Shortly after the two-man advantage expired, the Rangers rushed up the ice and Boyle got the puck on the inside edge of the right circle and sent the puck past a surprised Giguere.

Komisarek sent a payback message to Avery, but was sent off the ice for cross- checking at 9:54 of the third. Toronto killed off that penalty. Avery had a golden opportunity during the man-advantage, but his open shot from in front was deflected over the net.

Lundqvist robbed Mikhail Grabovski on a wrap-around try with nearly 3 1/2 minutes left, and the Leafs got another chance on the power play when Dan Girardi took a delay of game penalty by sending the disc over the glass with 3:04 left. However, the Rangers killed off the disadvantage with little resistance.

Giguere made a right pad save on a redirection of the puck in the waning seconds of regulation.

"Obviously we're not happy about the first couple of periods," Tortorella said. "I don't think we should be happy about the lack of discipline at certain times."

The Rangers had their four-game winning streak snapped in home openers...New York was 3-0-1 against Toronto in 2009-10, including a 2-0-0 mark at MSG. The Rangers outscored the Maple Leafs, 12-3, at home last season...New York was 0-for-5 on the power play.