|
 Kopitar's two goals, giving him 24 on the season, allowed the
Kings to come back from a two-goal deficit in the third after Kevin
Hayes scored for a 3-1 Rangers lead at 2:46 of the period.
Kyle Clifford's second goal of the season, on a beautiful backhanded
pass from Jeff Carter, cut the deficit to one two minutes later.
Kopitar tied the score at 3 with 4:10 left in the contest, getting a
stick on a blast by Milan Lucic. The Rangers appealed for goalie
interference, but the officials denied the request.
Dan Boyle and J.T. Miller also scored for the Rangers.
 Goalie Jonathan Quick saved 23 shots for the Kings (42-22-6), who
won their third in a row and their fifth in six games. The Kings
also swept the season series, earning a 5-4 overtime win on Feb. 12
at Madison Square Garden.
Lundqvist stopped 33 shots for the Rangers (40-23-8), who have
dropped three of their last four contests.
Miller put the Rangers up 1-0. Miller gained possession of the puck
after Lundqvist stuffed Tanner Pearson's attempt and took the puck
the length of the ice and fired a shot through Quick's legs for an
unassisted goal at 11:34 of the first period. It was Miller's 19th
goal of the season.
Just nine seconds later, Dustin Brown tied the score at 1, smoking a
winner past Lundqvist despite Boyle clinging all over the Kings left
winger for his 11th goal this season. Carter assisted on the goal,
his 200th career point with the Kings.
[to top of second column] |
Boyle delivered his seventh goal with 6:55 remaining in the second
period to boost New York to a 2-1 advantage.
Los Angeles outshot New York 16-9 in the first period and 11-8 in
the second for a 27-17 edge through two periods.
NOTES: Kings C Anze Kopitar was tied with Pittsburgh Penguins C
Evgeni Malkin for the league lead in plus/minus ratings at plus-30
heading into the game. ... The Rangers held a 64-47-19 mark in the
all-time series entering the contest, including 28-26-12 at Staples
Center. ... New York, which earned a 2-1 decision over the Anaheim
Ducks on Wednesday, was 8-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs
before Thursday. ... The Rangers scratched D Dylan McIlrath and C
Oscar Lindberg. D Jamie McBain and C Andy Adreoff were unavailable
for the Kings. ... Both teams resume play Saturday. The Rangers
visit the San Jose Sharks, while the Kings host the Boston Bruins.
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