Pearson's OT goal beats Hurricanes as Kings stay hot
LOS ANGELES -- Tanner Pearson scored with 20 seconds left in overtime and the Los Angeles Kings won their eighth consecutive game 3-2 againsit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night at Staples Center.
Pearson, Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Kings (20-8-3), who pulled within a win of their franchise record of nine straight victories from Jan. 21 to Feb. 6, 2010.
Jonathan Quick made 32 saves for Los Angeles.
Carolina scored twice in the final seven minutes of regulation to tie the score.
Victor Rask prevented Quick from getting his 47th career shutout when he took a pass from Teuvo Teravainen and scored on a one-timer with 6:57 remaining.
Elias Lindholm then tied the score with 2:22 left, scoring off a rebound during a delayed penalty and with goalie Scott Darling pulled for an extra attacker.
Darling had 18 saves for the Hurricanes (11-10-7), who have lost five of their past six games and seven of nine.
The Kings had gone 7:12 without a shot, but 16 seconds after Toffoli ended that spell he scored his 14th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead.
Toffoli had just been knocked down after colliding with Carolina center Jordan Staal in the neutral zone. Kopitar brought the puck deep into the Carolina zone, pulled up as three defenders converged and passed back to a wide-open Toffoli. He let the puck slide to his backhand and flicked it into net at 6:27 of the second period.
Carolina nearly scored when defenseman Noah Hanifin hit the post at 8:41 of the second, but the Kings scored their second goal 35 seconds later.
Kopitar brought the puck down middle with players on his left and right. He passed to Toffoli on his right and he took a shot from the circle. Kopitar stuck out his blade and the puck nicked off the tip, just enough to alter its course and get past Darling.
The Hurricanes have been outscored 14-3 in their last eight second periods.
NOTES: Except for the first-year expansion Vegas Golden Knights, Kings G Jonathan Quick had faced the Hurricanes fewer times than any other team in the NHL. He entered Saturday's game with a 4-2-0 record in six appearances against Carolina. ... Kings LW Tanner Pearson has two goals and five assists in his past six games. ... The Kings came in ranked No. 1 in the NHL on the penalty kill at 89 percent and they were 1 for 3 against Carolina. ... Carolina G Scott Darling came in with a 1-0-2 career record against the Kings, a 1.97 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. ... Hurricanes C Jordan Staal won 11-of-15 faceoffs.