Penguins 3, Kings 2 (SO)
Chris Kunitz scored the tying goal with under three minutes left in regulation and notched the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the host Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Saturday night.
Steve Sullivan scored a goal and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots for Pittsburgh, which avoided dropping all three games of its road trip.
The Kings’ Anze Kopitar and Kris Letang of the Penguins traded goals in the second round of the shootout. Following misses from both teams, Simon Gagne’s attempt was turned aside before Kunitz won it.
Gagne, whose early penalty led to the Penguins’ first goal, gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at 13:49 of the third on a feed from Kopitar. The Penguins responded when Kunitz leveled the score with 2:57 left by beating Jonathan Quick with a backhanded finish from Jordan Staal.
Kopitar scored his team-best seventh goal and Quick made 31 saves as the Kings dropped their fourth straight.
Sullivan quieted the Staples Center crowd in the opening minutes with a power-play tally after Gagne drew a penalty for high-sticking Paul Martin 37 seconds in.
The Kings evened it up at 13:34 of the second on Kopitar’s backhanded tally over Fleury’s glove.