Pearson, Carter propel Kings to OT win over Wild
LOS ANGELES -- Tanner Pearson scored 3:32 into overtime and Jeff Carter registered a goal and two assists as the Los Angeles Kings recorded a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Pearson scored his 11th goal of the season on a deflection of a shot from Alec Martinez to secure the win.
Los Angeles (20-16-4) won for the third time in four games. Jake Muzzin had a goal and an assist and Peter Budaj made 21 saves.
Minnesota (24-9-5) received goals from Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle and lost for the second time in three contests following a franchise-record 12 game winning streak. Darcy Kuemper made 32 saves in his first start since Dec. 29.
Minnesota tied the game with 42.1 seconds remaining on Zach Parise's eighth goal of the season on the power play. With Drew Doughty in the penalty box for tripping, Parise took a feed from behind the net by Eric Staal for a wrist shot.
The Kings took their first lead of the game at 3-2 on a power play goal by Muzzin, his fourth of the season just 54 seconds into the third period. After Minnesota's Jared Spurgeon drew a high-sticking penalty 7 seconds into the period, Muzzin took a feed from Doughty and drifted into the left faceoff circle for a snap shot that beat Kuemper cleanly.
The Kings drew even at 2 on Marian Gaborik's second goal of the season at 11:13 of the second period. Gaborik's backhand shot from the slot deflected off Minnesota's Ryan Suter and past Kuemper with Carter and Doughty drawing assists.
The goal was Gaborik's first in 12 games and Doughty registered his 251st career assist, surpassing Mark Hardy for second all-time among Kings defensemen.
Los Angeles cut the margin to 2-1 on Carter's team-leading 22nd goal at 7:39 of the second period. Carter gained possession in deep his own zone and made a rush down the right wing to beat Kuemper with a wrist shot with Muzzin drawing the lone assist. The score moved Carter into second place in goals scored in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby (26).
Minnesota extended its lead to 2-0 on Charlie Coyle's 13th goal at 7:27 of the first period. Jason Pominville beat Derek Forbort to the puck off a faceoff and his feed from behind the net found Coyle to convert a short shot through Budaj's legs.
The Wild took a 1-0 lead on Koivu's unassisted goal, his 12thm at 3:12 of the first period. Koivu beat Budaj on his stick side after a neutral-zone turnover by Muzzin.
NOTES: Minnesota scratched D Jordan Schroeder and D Nate Prosser. ... The Wild entered the game with a five-game unbeaten streak against the Kings (4-0-1) dating to March 18, 2015. ... The return of Bruce Boudreau to Anaheim highlights the Wild's final stop on their three-game trip on Sunday. The game marks the first time Boudreau has coached against the team that dismissed him on April 29, 2016, after four seasons behind the bench. ... The Wild's victory on Thursday was only the second time in franchise history it has won a game while overcoming multiple deficits of at least two goals. The other was on Dec. 4, 2009 at Anaheim. ... Los Angeles did not dress D Tom Gilbert, C Andy Andreoff and D Kevin Gravel. ... Kings RW Dustin Brown played in his 922nd game, passing Marcel Dionne for third on the team's all-time list. ... With the Kings' offensive struggles, rumors have surfaced about a potential trade with the Colorado Avalanche. With Colorado suffering through a poor season, speculation has risen about a swap featuring either captain Gabriel Landeskog or Matt Duchene.