Kings continue OT magic, top Predators
LOS ANGELES -- For the fourth game in a row, the Los Angeles Kings prevailed after going beyond regulation.
Jeff Carter knocked home the game-winning shot with 29 seconds remaining in the extra period, lifting the Kings to 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Goalie Peter Budaj recorded 24 saves for the Kings (4-3-0).
Goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 42 shots for the Predators, who are 0-3-1 on the road.
The Predators (2-4-1) briefly held a 2-1 edge one minute into the third period. After Rinne stuffed Tanner Pearson on a point-blank attempt, Viktor Arvidsson scored an unassisted, short-handed goal. It was Arvidsson's fourth goal of the season.
Los Angeles knotted the score again just 41 seconds later. Tyler Toffoli retrieved a loose puck just outside the blue line and punched it in for a 2-2 tie. Toffoli has two goals on the season.
Nashville broke a scoreless contest in the second period when Craig Smith rebounded his own miss and slapped a winner past Budaj at 10:56. It was Smith's second goal of the season.
However, the Kings tied the score later in the period on a power play. Jake Muzzin gathered a pass from Nic Dowd and fired a rocket from just below the blue line by Rinne for his first goal this season with 4:01 left in the second.
The Predators were playing the second end of a back-to-back after being handed a 6-1 drubbing Wednesday night at Anaheim. Rinne was lifted and replaced by Marek Mazanec after giving up four second-period goals against the Ducks.
Rinne, though, gave a solid effort against the Kings, turning back several close encounters around the net until Los Angeles finally broke through late in the second period.
Nashville finished 0-for-4 on power-play opportunities. The Kings were 1-for-3 with a man advantage.
The clubs registered eight shots on goal apiece in the opening period before Los Angeles outshot Nashville 12-8 in the second period. The Kings held a 20-8 edge in the third.
An announced sellout crowd of 18,230 attended.
NOTES: Nashville LW Filip Forsberg (5-0-4) has not lost a game in regulation to Los Angeles in his career. ... The visa status of Swedish G Anders Lindback, whom the Kings signed to professional tryout, has not been cleared, but the team continues its efforts to have the delay expedited, according to LAKingsInsider.com. ... The Predators scratched D Matt Carle and LW Harry Zolnierczyk. D Matt Greene, RW Teddy Purcell and C Jordan Nolan were unavailable for the Kings. ... The teams meet again Dec. 22 in Nashville. ... Both clubs resume play Saturday. The Predators visit the San Jose Sharks. The Kings open on a two-game road swing at the St. Louis Blues. On Sunday, they play the Chicago Blackhawks.