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Hartnell fuels Flyers past Kings

Jan 30, 2008 - 5:15 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Scott Hartnell scored with 28 seconds remaining in overtime as Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, on Tuesday.

Hartnell's 17th goal of the season did not come without controversy, however.

Skating up the left wing, All-Star Mike Richards wristed a centering feed intended for Hartnell, who was being dragged to the ice by a defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. The puck deflected off Hartnell's right skate and tickled past goaltender Jason LaBarbera and just inside the post.

"I was just going to the net," Hartnell said. "Richards made a great pass. The guy knocked me to the ice and I was just kind of falling down and it went into the net."

"It's a real tough play for a goalie when a guy that big is crashing the net," LaBarbera said. "I went for his stick and unfortunately the puck hit his shin pad. It was a tough play and they got the break."

The officials ruled that there was no distinct kicking motion involved on the goal as Philadelphia improved to 12-2-2 in its last 16 games.

"I didn't hear what (referee) Kerry Fraser announced," Hartnell said. "No one could hear. Then the crowd started cheering and that meant that we won the game."

LaBarbera has no reason to doubt the ruling.

"I saw the replay and it was a goal," LaBarbera said. "It happened so fast, I thought that it might not go in. His stick was tied up and he was sliding into the net. You go to the net, you get rewarded, I guess."

Defenseman Braydon Coburn opened the scoring just 57 seconds into the second period.

Steve Downie circled behind the net before feeding Coburn, who blasted a shot from the point which sailed between LaBarbera's pads for his fourth goal of the season.

All-Star Anze Kopitar leveled the game just 53 seconds later.

The 20-year-old, who was the youngest player in Sunday's All-Star Game, gained control of a loose puck in the slot and wristed it past goaltender Martin Biron. The goal, which was his 20th of the season, matches his total from last season's rookie campaign.

"We were right there and that's the frustrating part," Kopitar said. "We showed a lot of character in coming back the way we did."

Simon Gagne regained the lead for Philadelphia just 3:48 into the third period.

With Philadelphia on the power play, Gagne redirected a feed from Daniel Briere into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

It was the 11th consecutive game that the Flyers have scored a power-play goal.

"We have done a good job of taking advantage of our opportunities," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "We have done a great job of moving the puck quickly. Our net presence has been consistent all year."

Matt Moulson tied the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period.

After being recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League on Monday, Moulson wristed the puck from the blue line which found its way past a screened Biron for his fourth goal of the season.

"We came twice to tie the game," Kopitar said. "That overtime goal was what it was. To have them score it late in the overtime, it hurts."