NEW YORK – Anze Kopitar had a hat trick and Tanner Pearson scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers 5-4 in a thrilling game at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Los Angeles Kings were 30 seconds away from dropping back-to-back games in New York City and watching their 6-point lead in the Pacific Division fall to just four.
Thankfully, the Kings have Anze Kopitar.
The co-captain scored a hat trick, including the game-tying goal with just over 20 seconds remaining and Tanner Pearson scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Both teams started back up goalies, as the Rangers had Antii Raanta in net, making his first start since Jan. 17th. All-Star goalie Jonathan Quick missed his second straight game for Los Angeles, and with backup goalie Jhonas Enroth starting against the Islanders on Thursday, third-string goalie, Peter Budaj, who was called up from the Ontario Reign yesterday, made his first appearance in net for the Kings and first NHL start since April 9, 2014.
The back and forth battle was a rematch of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and was every bit exciting as that series. Kopitar started the scoring just 33 seconds into the game when his forehand wrist shot found the back of the net.
Marian Gaborik put the Kings up 2-0 in the first period when his slapshot snuck past Rannat for the goal. The Rangers responded a few minutes later when Viktor Salberg scored his 8th goal of the season.
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Derek Stepan tied the game at the 7:44 mark in the second period when his wrist shot went untouched into the net. Less than two minutes later, Mark Zauccarello scored on a deflection to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.
The Kings tied the game at the end of the second period on Kopitar's second goal of the game. After a Rangers turnover in their own zone, Milan Lucic found Kopitar to the left of the net for the easy tip-in goal.
The tie game did not last long as New York opened the third period with the go-ahead goal. Zuccarello found Kevin Hayes wide open on the left side of the net and his slap shot gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
Kopitar tied the game with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Kings had a man advantage after pulling Budaj. Kopitar's wrist shot from the right of the net deflected off the chest of Rangers defender Dyal Mcllrath for the game-tying goal.
"It was a back and forth game," said Kings' defenseman Luke Schenn. "We had the lead at the start, and they battled back and they got the lead, and then we tied it up, they got the lead again, and then we tied it up and won. Sometimes you need the full 60 minutes."
Pearson, who was scratched one night prior, scored the game-winning goal at 3:10 of overtime to give the Kings the victory, and Budaj's first win in nearly two years.
With the victory, Los Angeles extends their record to 8-0-1 on the second night of back-to-back's and snaps the Rangers five-game win streak in the process. The Kings move to 8-1 on the year in overtime games.
TURNING POINT
Kopitar's second goal. Los Angeles allowed three unanswered goals before Kopitar stopped the Rangers' momentum with his first of two game-tying goals in the second period.
MVP OF THE GAME
Anze Kopitar. Kopitar scored his third career hat trick, and first since March 11, 2011.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Anze Kopitar surpassed Butch Goring for seventh on the LA Kings all-time games played list with 737.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Budaj Ned Flanders paint job. cc: @lakingsinsider pic.twitter.com/gw4oK6gEdZ — LA Kings (@LAKings) February 13, 2016
Okilly, Dokilly!
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Yeah, that guy remembers pic.twitter.com/TeajmovjBY — LA Kings (@LAKings) February 13, 2016
Alec Martinez. Game Six. Overtime. Boom.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We have a pretty calm group and a great leadership group. They keep everyone calm and they led the way tonight for sure." – LA Kings forward Tanner Pearson on how the team was able to keep calm in the final minutes of the third period.
NOTES
Marian Gaborik left the game in the second period with a knee injury, and was writing in pain in the locker room during the second intermission. Matt Greene and Jonathan Quick were out with injuries. Nick Shore, Jamie McBain and Andy Andreoff were scratched. Rick Nash and Ryan McDonagh were out with injuries for the Rangers.
RECORD
Los Angeles Kings (33-18-3, 69 points) 1st in the Pacific Division
New York Rangers (31-18-6, 68 points) 2nd in Metropolitan Division
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Kings Grammy road trip continues when they travel across the Hudson river to New Jersey to face the Devils in a rematch of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday night.
The Rangers will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at 4:30 PM PST.
