Newark, NJ – The Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils are in familair territory, heading to overtime in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Down 1-0, the Devils came out strong to begin the third period and their potent fourth line finally put a puck behind Jonathan Quick.
Steve Bernier sent a pass off the right-wing boards that was one-timed at the point by Marek Zidlicky. Ryan Carter was positioned between the circles and redirected the drive inside the left post and past Quick at the 2:59 mark.
The triumvirate of Carter, Bernier and Stephen Gionta were an unlikely source of offense in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers, combining for nine points and a plus-9 rating.
With 3:05 left in regulation, New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus committed an interference penalty off an offensive-zone draw. However, the power play was negated 51 seconds later when Drew Doughty, the Kings' goal scorer, was called for hooking after the Devils' penalty-killing unit forced a turnover at the right point.
The Devils came so close to breaking the tie in the waning seconds, but Ilya Kovalchuk fired a shot off the crossbar.
Anze Kopitar scored on a breakaway at 8:13 of overtime to give Los Angeles a 2-1 victory in Game 1 on Wednesday.
New Jersey looked to immediately establish its forecheck after the game's opening faceoff and the early pressure around the Los Angeles crease led to Kings defenseman Matt Greene cross-checking Carter. Moments before the penalty, Quick turned away Gionta's left-circle drive.
The best opportunity on the power play belonged to the Kings, with New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur repelling a right-wing bid from Trevor Lewis on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush.
Doughty skated end-to-end and beat Brodeur to the blocker side with a wrister from the right circle at the 7:49 mark of the first period, giving Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
Seven seconds after the goal, the Devils went back on a power play when Kings blueliner Willie Mitchell was whistled for cross-checking. Quick made a left arm save on Patrik Elias on the ensuing man-advantage to preserve the lead.
The teams traded early chances in a scoreless second period. New Jersey rookie Adam Henrique created a turnover in the Los Angeles zone and it led to a quality opportunity in the slot by defenseman Anton Volchenkov at 2:13.
Shortly after Quick's brilliant stop, Brodeur snagged a high shot by winger Justin Williams on an odd-man rush.
Los Angeles received its first power play after a strong shift in the Devils' end. Rearguard Andy Greene tripped Jeff Carter, but like the Kings in the first period, New Jersey wound up with a prime scoring chance. Driving hard to the net, captain Zach Parise tipped a left-wing feed from Travis Zajac wide of the right post.
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