John Moore Nets OT Winner In Devils' 2-1 Win Over Kings
LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Moore circled the net and scored with 15.2 seconds left in overtime, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Saturday night for their second straight victory over a Western Conference power.
Tyler Kennedy scored early in the first period for the Devils, who followed up their win at San Jose with a defense-dominated victory over the Pacific Division leaders. New Jersey has lost eight of 12 overall, but has begun its three-game California road trip in style.
Keith Kinkaid made 22 saves in his second straight win over the Kings.
Jonathan Quick stopped 22 shots for Los Angeles, but couldn't stop Moore from skating out in front and beating him with a short-angled shot for the defenseman's first goal since Jan. 2.
Anze Kopitar scored in the second period for the Kings, who wrapped up a five-game homestand with seven points and a two-point lead over Anaheim atop the Pacific Division.
The young Devils face an uphill struggle to get into the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but they made everything difficult for the Pacific Division leaders.
Kinkaid earned his first career shutout against the Kings last month in Newark, New Jersey, and he looked sharp when he got a second start against them with Cory Schneider sidelined by a sprained right knee. Kinkaid stopped 49 of the Kings' 50 shots against him this season.
The standing-room-only crowd at Staples Center was largely still standing when Kennedy put the Devils ahead just 1:12 in, swatting home his third goal of the season amid a disorganized Los Angeles defense.
After scoring nine goals in their previous two games, the Kings seemed offensively tepid from the start. Los Angeles managed just four shots in the first period despite three power plays, and a four-minute power play early in the second period yielded only four more shots and no serious scoring chances.
The Kings finally took charge for a long stretch late in the second, and Kopitar slipped home a rebound for the franchise center's 21st goal of the season.
Kings captain Dustin Brown hit the post with 2:05 left in regulation, keeping him goalless since Feb. 9.
NOTES: Jordin Tootoo sat out for New Jersey with an upper-body injury. ... The Devils' trip concludes Monday at Anaheim. They won't go farther west than Columbus for the rest of the season. ... The Kings open a high-profile road trip to Central Division powers Chicago and Dallas on Monday at United Center.
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