#LAKings Kings overcome early deficit, defeat Blues in overtime (Daily News)
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David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues and Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Los Angeles Kings chase after the puck during the first period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with the bench, to trail 3-1 to the St. Louis Blues, during the first period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Matt Luff #64 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Tobias Bjornfot #33 and Carl Grundstrom #91, to tie the St. Louis Blues 3-3, during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues looks back a the puck with Vince Dunn #29 and Dakota Joshua #54, as Matt Luff #64 of the Los Angeles Kings scores to tie the game 3-3,during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues clears the puck in front of Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues looks back as Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings scores in front of Dustin Brown #23, to trail 2-1, during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings looks for the puck behind Niko Mikkola #77 and Jordan Kyrou #25 of the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brayden Schenn #10 of the St. Louis Blues skates between Jeff Carter #77 and Andreas Athanasiou #22 of the Los Angeles Kings for the puck during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues takes a check from Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues reacts as the puck sails past his shoulder during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings reacts after taking a high stick for a St. Louis Blues penalty during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Niko Mikkola #77 of the St. Louis Blues hits Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dakota Joshua #54 of the St. Louis Blues and Rasmus Kupari #89 of the Los Angeles Kings turn for the puck during the first period at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores past Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues, for a 4-3 win in overtime at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues knocks the puck away from Andreas Athanasiou #22 of the Los Angeles Kings as David Perron #57 skates into play during a 4-3 Kings overtime win at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings beats David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues to the puck during a 4-3 Kings overtime win at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brayden Schenn #10 of the St. Louis Blues stickhandles in front of Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings during a 4-3 Kings overtime win at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings fends off Ryan O’Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues in front of Jonathan Quick #32 during a 4-3 Kings overtime win at Staples Center on March 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, left, gives up a goal on a shot from St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron (not shown) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, left, stops a shot next to St. Louis Blues left wing Sammy Blais (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly (90) celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly, second from left, scores past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron, right, collides with the boards next to Los Angeles Kings center Blake Lizotte during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, right, passes in front of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues defenseman Niko Mikkola, right, collides with Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Moore (12) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk, left, skates past Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Moore during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington gives up a goal on a shot from Los Angeles Kings right wing Matt Luff during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues left wing Mackenzie MacEachern, left, collides with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, second from left gives up a goal on a shot from Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (not shown) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Matt Luff, center, celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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A dismal start could have condemned the Kings once more as they fell down 3-0 in the opening frame, but they scored four straight goals to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in overtime at Staples Center Saturday night.
It was the teams first three-goal comeback victory since 2014 according to Fox Sports, which also came against the Blues.
Center Anze Kopitar scored twice for the Kings and set up winger Matt Luffs goal, playing a role in all three regulation goals. Center Gabe Vilardi led a three-on-one rush in overtime, which Kempe finished on the backdoor to cap the rally. Jonathan Quick stopped 22 of 25 shots.
Forward David Perron had a goal and an assist for the Blues. Winger Nathan Walker tallied as well. Forward Brayden Schenn had a pair of assists, including one on center Ryan OReillys power-play goal. Jordan Binnington faced 34 shots and a heavy shot-attempt advantage for the Kings, and made 30 saves in the loss.
The Kings entered the game having lost consecutive games whereas the Blues had hit the right notes against the California teams with four straight wins on their road trip.
In a parallel with Friday’s game, Perron scored on the first shot of the night. It was eerily similar to Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumbas two buzzer-beating goals in two different games against the Kings, one in regulation to force overtime and another for an OT winner.
The Blues caught the Kings with three men low offensively and won a neutral-zone battle in transition. That created a two-on-one rush with Brayden Schenn and Perron, which the veteran forward finished with a one-timer 25 seconds into the game. Perron is now riding a six-game point streak during which he has eight points.
St. Louis would strike again on a counterattack 3:13 later. An errant pass led to a quick outlet that beat four Kings up the ice. Winger Sammy Blais caused the Kings to scramble, drawing everyone into the center of the ice as Walker weaved outside and then to the net where he received the puck for a no-contest, tap-in goal. It was Walkers first goal of the season and the third of his career.
The low point of the first came on the Blues third goal. Rookie center Rasmus Kupari took a penalty and the Blues scorching hot power play scored its fifth goal in the past three games. A tic-tac-toe play down low between Schenn, Perron and OReilly led to another one-timer, this time from in tight, by OReilly. Down 3-0 with just under nine minutes left in the first period, the Kings appeared deflated.
St. Louis has been fettered by a spate of injuries, most recently one to forward Oskar Sundqvist Friday. The hard-driving, high-scoring Vladimir Tarasenko replaced Sundqvist Saturday. Tarasenko returned from his latest of three shoulder surgeries for his first game since Aug. 14, his last of just four postseason games. He played only 10 regular-season games last season after injuring his shoulder against the Kings Oct. 24, 2020.
The Kings managed to get one back off a strong individual effort by Kopitar. He emerged from the neutral-zone traffic jam with the puck and zoomed ahead. Taking advantage of some tentative play by defenseman Torey Krug and Binnington, Kopitar scored a short-side goal with the flick of his wrist to conserve a fighting chance for the Kings.
The second period saw some close calls that needed Quick to stay aggressive and sharp. But it was the Kings who scored the stanzas first goal with 1:51 remaining before evening the score with 11 seconds left in the frame.
Walker interfered with center Blake Lizotte and the Kings cashed in on the power play. Defenseman Drew Doughty sent a puck through the seam that was touched by winger Alex Iafallo in the slot, giving the Blues defense pause. The pass continued across to Kopitar, who banged the puck in on the weak side.
Kopitar ended up on the ice with the Kings fourth line and he continued to work his magic. He factored into yet another goal. Luff turned the puck behind the net for Kopitar, who held the puck with poise as Luff snuck in and out of traffic to receive a saucer pass for a point-blank tally. It was Luffs first goal of the season and tenth of his career.
Four minutes into the third period, Kopitar nearly masterminded another goal, this time with the man advantage. He received a pass on the backdoor and spotted Binnington selling out to get across the crease. He sent a touch pass back across for Brown but a last-second check negated a likely tap-in goal.
The Kings gathered momentum but the third period remained scoreless. Kopitar also missed the net on a dangerous chance off the rush to begin overtime.
After Tarasenko failed to convert on a solid opportunity, the Kings headed back the other way with three players outnumbering a lone Blues defender. Vilardi glided toward the middle before sending a pass with ideal timing and weight across for a no-doubt goal for Kempe.
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/03/06...s-in-overtime/