Anze Kopitar scored 3:23 into overtime Tuesday night shortly after two great chances by the Boston Bruins on the other end of the ice, sending the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 win at TD Garden in Boston.
The two teams exchanged goals in the opening period, but it was Los Angeles that opened the scoring and twice took one goal leads over the first two periods. After winning a battle for the puck along the right wing boards, the Kings got the puck to Jeff Carter in the high slot who sent a shot on goal that was tipped and re-directed by Blake Lizotte past Boston goalie Tuuka Rask on the powerplay at 2:17 to make it 1-0. The Bruins evened it also on the powerplay on a Danton Heinen marker. Brad Marchand sent a pass from the top of the left faceoff circle in front to the left of LA goalie Jonathan Quick. Heinen re-directed it in off his skate at 19:01, and after a review it wasn’t considered a kicking motion and the game was tied 1-1.
In the second period after a great save by Quick on one end of the ice Adrian Kempe shorthanded took control of the puck, deeked around David Pastrnak and went in alone on Rask faking with the backhand and bringing it back forehand for the shorthanded goal at 2:45 to make it 2-1 Kings. The Bruins though had the answer again with the Kings trying to clear their own zone. Boston would keep control and get it to Patrice Bergeron who dragged the puck and fired a wristshot from out beyond the right faceoff circles ringing it off the post and in at 10:44. Brandon Carlo gave the hosts their first lead of the night scoring his third goal of the season at 1:24 of the third. This time though it was Los Angeles responding to a one goal deficit. The Kings pulled Quick for an extra attacker with just over two minutes left, and Matt Roy ripped a slapper past Rask at the right point at 17:59 to tie it again 3-3 and the game would go to overtime.
Boston (21-7-7) had three great chances in the extra session the first by Marchand who got off a heavy shot after working through traffic in front but just missed the net. Anders Bjork had a breakaway that was stopped by Quick, and Bergeron also had a breakaway 35 seconds later that he shot high off the end glass. Kopitar scored his 14th goal only seconds after the Bergeron try firing one from the left faceoff circle past Rask high over the shoulder stick side after a feed from Drew Doughty. Heinen was the only multiple point scorer in the game with a goal and an assist. Rask ended with 23 saves in the loss. Quick made 37 in the win for Los Angeles (15-18-3), who have now won four of their last five games. The Bruins went 1-3 on the powerplay, while the Kings were 1-1. Boston who is 1-6 in their last seven will host the New York Islanders Thursday night. The black and gold still only have one home loss in regulation this season (12-1-6).
