Martinez pushes Kings over Jackets in OT
LOS ANGELES -- Alec Martinez tapped in the game-winning shot at 1:41 of overtime, rallying the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-2 decision over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Martinez rebounded a miss by Tanner Pearson and slipped it past Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky as the Kings (3-2-0) captured their third straight win, all coming in extra sessions.
Goalie Peter Budaj recorded 19 saves for the Kings, who defeated the Blue Jackets for the eighth time in 11 games.
Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots.
Drew Doughty's goal with 5:57 left in the third period tied the score at 2 and forced the extra period. Doughty smoked a shot from the right circle that bounced off Bobrovsky and into the net for his second goal of the season.
Anze Kopitar's second-period tally allowed him to close within a goal from tying Wayne Gretzky (246) for sixth on the franchise's all-time goals. Kopitar has points in five of the Kings' six games.
After a Kings' turnover, Brandon Saad delivered his first goal of the season on an assist from Nick Foligno to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 1:31 of the second period.
Later in the period, Kopitar knotted the score with his second goal of the season. The Kings center took a pass from defenseman Tom Gilbert and ripped a shot past Bobrovsky at 13:40.
However, Columbus went up again a little more than a minute later on a power play. Cam Atkinson converted a drop pass from Sam Gagner and scored with 5:09 left in the period. It was Atkinson's second goal this season.
Neither club drew a penalty until Los Angeles left winger Dustin Brown was whistled for holding with 5:29 remaining in the second, leading to Atkinson's goal.
NOTES: Swedish G Anders Lindback was signed by the Kings to a professional tryout, but reportedly must wait for his visa to clear, according to LAKingsInsider.com. Lindback played 130 career games with Nashville, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Buffalo and Arizona. He is 45-58-8 with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. ... The Blue Jackets scratched LW Sonny Milano, D Ryan Murray and Scott Harrington. D Matt Greene, RW Teddy Purcell and C Jordan Nolan were unavailable for the Kings. ... Los Angeles led the all-time series 30-19-4, including a 17-9-1 advantage at home entering the contest. ... The teams meet again Dec. 20 in Columbus. ... Both clubs resume play Thursday. The Blue Jackets visit the San Jose Sharks, while the Kings host the Nashville Predators.