Scuffling Kings ax Stevens

The struggling Los Angeles Kings fired head coach John Stevens yesterday just 13 games into his second season in charge.

Willie Desjardins will be the Kings’ interim head coach for the rest of the regular season, general manager Rob Blake said.

Los Angeles also fired assistant Don Nachbaur and hired former Kings forward Marco Sturm to replace him on Desjardins’ staff.

Los Angeles is last in the overall NHL standings after a 4-8-1 start and last in the league with 2.15 goals per game. The Kings have been outscored 45-28, but they had won two of their past three games following a sixgame losing streak.

“I’m looking to get the compete and the passion back,” Blake said after announcing his second coaching change in 19 months. “We need our players emotionally involved. It’s difficult to win when you’re not. We expect Willie to bring that passion and that excitement to this team.” Lightning 4, Senators 3 — Yanni Gourde scored 14 seconds into OT to lift Tampa Bay to a victory in Ottawa.

Brayden Point tied the score with 27 seconds left in regulation on a two-man advantage off a pass from Tyler Johnson to send the game to the extra period. Point also had an assist on Gourde’s winner.

Cedric Paquette and Mathieu Joseph also scored for the Lightning, and Louis Domingue stopped 22 shots. Ryan McDonagh had three assists. Rangers 3, Sabres 1 — Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 shots and Jimmy Vesey scored twice to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night.

Neal Pionk also scored in the Rangers’ third straight win. New York rookie Brett Howden picked up his sixth assist of the season before leaving with an injury.

Lundqvist earned his 435th career win.