Kings 4, Canadiens 3 (SO)
Anze Kopitar scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout as Los Angeles rallied to improve to 6-1-2 in its last nine home games.
Marian Gaborik netted a pair of power-play goals and Jeff Carter tallied in his 700th NHL game - and 200th for the Kings, who remained even in points with Calgary for third place in the Pacific Division. Defenseman Jake Muzzin notched two assists and Jonathan Quick made 15 saves as Los Angeles climbed within two points of Winnipeg for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
Blue-liner Tom Gilbert, Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Canadiens, who fell to 0-2-1 on their four-game road trip. David Desharnais notched a pair of assists and Dustin Tokarski made 26 saves as Montreal moved two points ahead of Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division.
Los Angeles took advantage of an early power play to grab the lead as Gaborik redirected defenseman Brayden McNabb's blast from the blue line past Tokarski 4:02 into the contest. Carter doubled the lead 4:01 later when he tapped in a pass from the left faceoff circle by captain Dustin Brown while standing on the doorstep.
Gilbert began Montreal's comeback with 4:45 left in the second period, using a linesman as a pick to get down the left side and cut to the top of the crease before tucking the puck around Quick's left pad. Gallagher forged a tie 1:34 later with a backhander from in front and Pacioretty converted Desharnais' pass from the outer edge of the right circle to put the Canadiens ahead 7:12 into the third, but Gaborik beat Tokarski with Carter standing alone in front with 45 seconds left to force overtime.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pacioretty has registered at least one shot on goal in each of his 65 games this season. ... Gaborik's first power-play goal was the 100th of his career. ... Actors Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, who are co-starring in the upcoming television series "The Comedians" that debuts in April on FX, were in attendance.