KINGS MANAGE ROYAL COMEBACK L.A. STIFLES OTTAWA IN THIRD PERIOD KINGS 4, OTTAWA 3.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Roman Cechmanek was run out of Philadelphia by the Ottawa Senators. The Kings want to show their new goaltender he will like his new home.

They did it Wednesday night by overcoming a two-goal deficit and choking off the mighty Senators offense in the third period of a 4-3 victory in front of a wild, overflow crowd of 18,180 at Staples Center.

Cechmanek, whose past two seasons ended with playoff losses to the Senators, faced just six shots down the stretch and watched Jozef Stumpel and Alexander Frolov spark the comeback with late goals to raise the Kings' early record to 3-1.

All six goals in the first two periods came on the power play.

Luc Robitaille scored his first goal of the season and 632nd of his career. Linemate Derek Armstrong also added his first, coming with less than two minutes left in the second period. Ziggy Palffy assisted on both goals.

Daniel Alfedsson scored twice for the Senators, both on the power play. Zdeno Chara added a third goal, also with the man advantage.

Martin Prusek stopped 23 shots for the Senators, who are 1-0-1-1 in the young season. Cechmanek faced just 16 shots.

Like Cechmanek, Stumpel is looking for a fresh start in his second tour with the Kings.

He was brought back to center the second unit with the idea that there would less pressure than his top line duties two years ago. But with an injury to Jason Allison, the player the Kings got for Stumpel in Oct. 2002, Stumpel is back with the first unit and showing some flair.

He tied the game at 7:02 of the third after parking at the side of the net.

Then he was on the ice again for Frolov, who scored on a wrap around for the game winner at 12:48.

For both players it was their first of the year. About the only player who didn't join in the scoring celebration was 18-year old Dustin Brown, who has taken Frolov's job on the first line.

Brown appeared to assist on Frolov's goal, but later it was given to Ziggy Palffy. Minutes later Brown appeared to score his first NHL goal. But his shot was waved off by officials because of a high stick.

Chara gave the Senators a 3-1 lead and it looked like that might be enough. Radek Bonk and Marian Hossa worked the puck around with some crisp passing before finding Chara in front.

The Kings had blown leads in two of their first three games and hadn't looked sharp in the third periods.

But as time wound down in the second, the club found the grit it would need to overcome a team expected to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Armstrong crunched Ottawa's Karel Rachunek behind the Senators' net. He worked himself in front of the net and poked a pass from Palffy past Lalime to cut the lead to 3-2.

For Armstrong it was more than just his first goal of the season. Coming off a breakout year after a long journeyman career, Armstrong arrived at training camp is terrific shape.

Kings coach Andy Murray repeatedly said Armstrong was the best player in camp. His chemistry with Robitaille and Trent Klatt, who had three goals in the first three games, became clear during a 5-2-1 exhibition season.

The Senators jumped out to early lead after Ian Laperriere was whistled for his second penalty in less than four minutes.

Alfredsson took advantage, skating past the Kings defense virtually untouched, blowing by rookie Tomas Zizka before beating Cechmanek at 3:51.

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Goaltender Roman Cechmanek trips up Ottawa's Petr Schastlivy during a 4-3 victory at Staples Center.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer