Kings Fall to the Boston Bruins in Overtime Thriller
BOSTON — Charlie McAvoy clinched victory for the Boston Bruins just 39 seconds into overtime, leading the team to a 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. The victory marked the Bruins’ 13th consecutive win at home.
The game remained scoreless until Mason Lohrei found the net midway through the third period. However, the Kings quickly responded, tying the game five minutes later when Drew Doughty’s shot from the blue line deflected off Bruins forward Elias Lindholm and into the goal.
This encounter continued a trend, as it was the seventh consecutive matchup between these teams in Boston that required overtime.
In the overtime period, Mark Kastelic blocked a Kings shot and executed a long pass to David Pastrnak, who waited for McAvoy to enter the zone. Despite briefly leaving the ice after being struck in the mouth by a puck at the end of the second period, McAvoy skated in on Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper and finished with a backhand shot for the game-winner.
Kuemper recorded 21 saves for the Kings, who were vying for a position in the playoff race as they entered the game just one point shy of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the win solidified the Bruins’ position in the Eastern Conference playoff scene.
Jeremy Swayman matched his career high with his 25th win of the season, and the Bruins have not suffered a defeat at TD Garden since before Christmas.
After the final buzzer, Kings forward Anze Kopitar, a future Hall of Famer, remained on the ice to shake hands with his Bruins counterparts, marking what is anticipated to be his final appearance in Boston.
