Carter's OT winner pushes Kings to fifth straight win
PHILADELPHIA -- Minutes after being denied on a fabulous save by Michal Neuvirth, Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter beat his former team with the game's only goal 2:35 into overtime in a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
Carter found an open spot on the left side of the ice and easily deposited Anze Kopitar's pass behind Neuvirth to give the Kings (27-21-4) their fifth straight win.
The goal was Carter's 27th of the season and his ninth game-winner.
Los Angeles goaltender Peter Budaj (25-14-3) turned aside all 17 shots he faced to record his seventh shutout of the season and his third during a five-game win streak in which he has allowed just three goals.
The loss was the Flyers' second in three games. Neuvirth was spectacular throughout with 27 saves but fell to 8-4-1.
In a span of three minutes early in the second period, each team rang shots off the post and Neuvirth robbed Dustin Brown with a circus save.
With 4:42 gone in the scoreless second period Flyers center Sean Couturier broke in alone on Budaj, but his snap shot rang off the left post.
On the Kings' next line rush, right winger Tyler Toffoli's wrister beat Neuvirth to the far side, but hit iron as well.
The Kings' next best chance to score the opening goal came at the 7:55 mark when Flyers right winger Jakub Voracek inadvertently sent a defensive zone pass intended for defenseman Brandon Manning onto the stick of a backchecking Brown, who stepped around Neuvirth but was denied his eighth goal of the season when Neuvirth reached back to snare the puck before it crossed the goal line.
Neuvirth came up with another sprawling save with about 6 minutes remaining in the third period, denying a backhander from Tanner Pearson. He also got a little help from Manning, who was stripped at the offensive blue line by Toffoli but chased him down to disrupt him before he got off a breakaway attempt.
NOTES: RW Tyler Toffoli returned to the lineup for the Kings after missing the previous 19 games because of a lower body injury. Toffoli played on the second line with C Jeff Carter LW Tanner Pearson. ... Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere (minus-19) and LW Travis Konecny (minus-4) were healthy scratches for the second straight game, replaced by D Nick Schultz and LW Dale Weiss. D Michael Del Zotto sat out because of a lower body injury. ... The Kings continue their four-game trip on Sunday in Washington. They follow with visits to Tampa and Florida before going on a five-day bye week. ... The Flyers continue their five-game homestand Monday night against the St. Louis Blues and follow with home games against the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks.