Carter's OT goal gives Kings fifth straight victory
LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Carter scored the game-winning goal at 4:06 of overtime, lifting the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night at Staples Center.
Carter, who also had an assist, took a pass from Tyler Toffoli and delivered from the left circle, allowing the Kings (12-9-1) to win their fifth in a row.
Goaltender Peter Budaj stopped 18 of 19 shots for the Kings.
Goalie Scott Darling recorded 27 saves for the Blackhawks (14-6-3), who were playing the second end of a back-to-back after a 3-2 victory Friday over the Anaheim Ducks. Chicago has lost three of its last four.
On their first shot on goal, the Blackhawks grabbed a 1-0 lead when Patrick Kane misdirected a blast fired by Duncan Keith through the legs of Kings defenseman Derek Forbort and into the net at 11:21 of the first period. It was Kane's eighth goal this season.
In the second, Alec Martinez gathered a pass from Carter and ripped a shot past Darling to tie the score 57 seconds into the period. For Martinez, it was his fifth goal this year and extended his points' streak to five games. Martinez also tied Garry Galley (44) for eighth on the Kings all-time goals list among defensemen.
The Kings had a goal by Toffoli waved off in the opening two minutes after a review. Toffoli scored by backhanding a rebound past Darling, but the tally was nullified after Tanner Pearson was whistled for interference by pushing Niklas Hjalmarsson into Darling.
The Kings outshot the Blackhawks 13-4 in the opening period and 11-7 in the second.
Los Angeles right winger Marian Gaborik made his season debut after being out with a broken foot. Gaborik logged 11:49 of ice time
Chicago center Jonathan Toews missed his second straight contest with an upper-body injury.
NOTES: Kings C Anze Kopitar passed Mattias Norstrom for sixth on the franchise's career list for games played with 781. ... The Blackhawks scratched RW Jordan Tooto and D Michal Rozsival. D Matt Greene, RW Teddy Purcell and LW Kyle Clifford were unavailable for the Kings. ... This is the second of three meetings between the clubs. The Blackhawks, who won the initial game 3-0 on Oct. 30 in Chicago, will visit Staples Center again on April 8. ... Chicago is 17-5-3 against Los Angeles since the 2009-10 season. ... The Blackhawks, who capped their seven-game trip against the Kings, resume play Tuesday at home against the Florida Panthers. ... The Kings host the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.