HIGH STICK CAN'T STIFLE VISNOVSKY, KINGS DEFENSEMAN CONTINUES ROLL WITH GOAL, ASSIST IN ROUT KINGS 7, PHOENIX 3.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Lubomir Visnovsky didn't mind the bloody lip. It wasn't going to keep him from smiling.

After the best October of his four-year career, Visnovsky came back from a high stick to the mouth to score a goal and an assist Saturday night in the Kings' easy 7-3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at Staples Center.

With early-season injuries to fellow defensemen Aaron Miller and Mattias Norstrom, Visnovsky has emerged as the leader of a young group of blue-liners. He has shown the speed and instincts that once prompted Kings coach Andy Murray to compare him to future Hall of Famer Paul Coffey.

Visnovsky had three goals and eight points in the first month and has been nominated for NHL player of the month for October.

``Lubo has stepped up this season after being very good last year,'' Murray said. ``He never stops moving, and when he does that, he is one of the best in the league.''

The victory ended a losing streak at three games for the Kings, who entered Saturday's action behind Phoenix in the Western Conference standings.

It was a strong way to end a mediocre 3-4 homestand that included impressive victories over Ottawa and Philadelphia but humbling defeats against Buffalo, Boston and Chicago.

Now, the team heads on the road for four games beginning Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers. The trip also includes games against undefeated Tampa Bay and lowly Carolina and Washington.

In addition to Visnovsky, the Kings got goals Saturday from Ziggy Palffy, Luc Robitaille, Derek Armstrong and Jon Sim before Phoenix goaltender Zac Bierk was replaced by Sean Burke to begin the third period.

Palffy also had his third three-assist game of the young season and has 16 points in 10 games.

Daymond Langkow scored the Coyotes' first goal and Krystofer Kolanos added another 17 seconds into the third period. Kings goalie Roman Cechmanek, coming off two consecutive poor starts, allowed a goal to Radoslav Suchy midway through the third period but wasn't going to give this one away.

One minute and forty seconds after Suchy's goal, Alexander Frolov scored shorthanded at 9:34 on assists from Palffy and Jason Holland. Frolov scored a second goal with 28 seconds left.

The Kings came in after losing games to Chicago and Vancouver where they dominated on shots.

On Saturday, they were a little more subdued, needing only eight shots to score three first-period goals.

The first came just 1:50 into the game when Palffy skated in on Bierk and fired from close range.

Bierk caught the shot with his glove, but his arm already was behind the line. Officials originally ruled no goal. But upon further review, Palffy received credit for his third goal of the season with assists from Armstrong and Robitaille.

Soon after, the Coyotes survived 1:19 of a 5-on-3 Kings power play after Tyson Nash was whistled for a four-minute high-sticking penalty on Visnovsky.

But with 30 seconds left in Nash's second penalty, Visnovsky unloaded from the point. Robitaille was set up in front of Bierk and redirected the puck into the net.

For Robitaille, it was his fourth goal of the season, all on the power play.

After Langkow's goal at 12:38 of the first, Visnovsky was at the center of the action again.

With Chris Gratton off for roughing, Robitaille took the puck deep in the Phoenix zone and fed Visnovsky at the point.

Visnovsky fired and scored at 16:51. Palffy also got an assist. As he skated off after the goal, Visnovsky was thrown a towel for his chin, which began to bleed again.

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

The Kings' Lubomir Visnovsky, right, and Jaroslav Modry (44) celebrate a second-period goal by Jon Sim, center, at Staples Center on Saturday.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press