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.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/18/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png) 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] |
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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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reserved.]
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