Boston — With 27 seconds remaining in overtime, Brandt Clarke scored his first NHL goal, and the Los Angeles Kings overcame the Boston Bruins 5–4 at TD Garden on Saturday.
At 2:24, Clarke hooked the ball, giving Boston a power play. However, Los Angeles killed the play, and Clarke got out of the box, collected a feed from Phillip Danault, and scored on a breakaway.
It was the defenseman’s 17th NHL game, age 21.
“While I was in the penalty box, my heart was racing,” Clarke remarked. “I don’t even really recall that part, but I guess it was pretty wild from when I touched [the puck] at the red line to when everyone was just swarming on me. [I’m] glad we completed the task.
With goalie David Rittich pulled for an additional attacker at 18:25 of the third period, Anze Kopitar knotted the score at 4–4 with a tip-in.
got two assists and the Kings (26-16-10) have won four of their last five games thanks to Rittich’s 28 saves.
Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller remarked, “It’s hard to single anybody out on a game like today, where it took everybody.” “Just give credit to everyone, all the way up the lineup.”
Linus Ullmark made 30 saves, while James van Riemsdyk scored two goals and provided an assist for the Bruins (32-12-11), who have dropped their last four games (0-2-2). Trent Frederic contributed a goal and a helper.
“It’s imperative to finish a game,” stated Boston head coach Jim Montgomery. “Our power play needs to put it away in overtime when you go up twice in the third period and don’t finish it out.”
By putting a loose puck in front of him, Van Riemsdyk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 8:03 in the first period.
At 11:02, Matt Roy scored a goal from the left side, bouncing the puck off Ullmark’s knee and into the goal.
At 14:45, on a power play, Van Riemsdyk backhanded a rebound past Rittich to give Boston the lead again, 2-1.
Van Riemsdyk remarked, “A few bounces go our way, maybe we’re having a different conversation.” Sadly, though, it didn’t. Thus, I believe it’s just a matter of persevering, recovering tomorrow, practicing well, and getting ready for a crucial game on Monday [against the Dallas Stars].
At 13:04 of the second period, his first goal in his fourth game with the Bruins made the score 3-1.
Richard said, “It was amazing.” “Scoring at home is always more special. Last year, I think I scored three goals [with the Montreal Canadiens], but they were all on the road.”
At 16:38, Vladislav Gavrikov made a shot from the point to trim the lead to 3-2.
After a scramble in front, Alex Laferriere knotted the score at 3-3 at 5:51 of the third period, but Frederic gave Boston a 4-3 lead from the slot at 7:12.
Laferriere remarked, “I think those are two really good teams going at it.” “That carries a lot of emotion.” We’re swinging right now, and we need to win games, and I believe [Andreas Englund] set the tone there right away with that fight [against Frederic at 11:02 of the first period]. Thus, yes, I believe that felt very playoff-like.
NOTES: Clarke scored his first NHL goal in overtime, making history as the first player in Kings history. He was the first since Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (April 13, 2023, 5–4 victory against the Washington Capitals). .. In order to become the first player in Kings history under the age of twenty-one to score forty points in a season since defender Drew Doughty in 2010–11 (11 goals, 29 assists), forward Quinton Byfield (17 goals, 23 assists) assisted on Laferriere’s goal. .. In the last two minutes of regulation, Kopitar scored his ninth goal to tie the NHL record, which is held by Dave Andreychuk, Wayne Gretzky, and Teemu Selanne, each with eleven goals. .. With his third three-pointer of the year, Van Riemsdyk is second on the Bruins in scoring behind forward David Pastrnak (11). .. In addition, Frederic recorded a game-high six hits. Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha, two centers from Boston, won 33 out of 47 face-offs (70.2 percent).