Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - Anze Kopitar scored the lone goal of the shootout to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum. Drew Doughty's power-play blast from the high slot 7:20 into the third period represented the game's first score with Kopitar picking up the primary assist. Jonathan Quick stopped 28-of-29 shots to pick up the win as LA shook off an embarrassing 7-0 loss in Atlanta on Friday. "With the game we had last night...that was not fun. It was a great bounce back for our team and I think it shows the character of this team that we never let down and nothing gets under our skin," said Kopitar. Ryan Malone scored with 8:21 left in regulation to force extra time and Antero Niittymaki was sharp in stopping 29-of-30 shots over 65 minutes. "We wanted to get back in that game after we got down a goal. In overtime we thought we had it and you have to just re-focus after they make a call against you," said Bolts forward James Wright, referring to a goalie interference call that wiped out a potential winning goal in OT. While the Bolts failed to push their winning streak to a season-high three games, the club recorded at least a point in its fifth straight contest (3-0-2). Game Notes Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, picked up an assist and has 20 points through 17 games in an excellent sophomore campaign thus far for the Lightning...The Bolts have yet to suffer a regulation loss at home this year with a 5-0-4 record...Tampa Bay heads out on a four-game road trip, beginning Monday in Phoenix, while LA is 2-2-0 on a five-game road trip that ends Monday at Florida...The Lightning had won three straight in the series. |
