• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kopitar's OT goal lifts Kings over Red Wings

Dec 5, 2010 - 6:57 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Anze Kopitar scored the game-winning goal with 56 seconds left in overtime, as the Los Angeles Kings beat the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, at Staples Center.

A Detroit turnover in the enemy's zone resulted in a rush for the Kings. Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown pushed the puck down the left wing and sent a cross-ice pass that Kopitar hammered at the top of the faceoff circle behind Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood.

Justin Williams and Alec Martinez joined Kopitar with a goal and an assist for Los Angeles, which has won two straight on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Jonathan Quick made 27 saves in the win.

"It's a huge win," Williams said. "It's a big win against arguably the best team in the league right now. We battled back from a couple one-goal deficits and we played a strong third period."

Jonathan Ericsson and Todd Bertuzzi lit the lamp for the Red Wings, who were vying for a season-high fifth straight win. Osgood, making his first start since October 30, stopped 22 shots. He had been sidelined with a groin pull.

"We got to play smart, we didn't have our legs moving and we just didn't do our best today," said Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg.

Ericsson pounced on a rebound in the left circle to stake Detroit to a 1-0 lead at the 15:29 mark of the first period.

Williams deflected Rob Scuderi's point shot in the slot, tying the game 24 seconds into the middle stanza. Bertuzzi countered 48 seconds later to put the Red Wings back on top.

Martinez beat Osgood with a screened shot from the left point at 7:18 of the second period.

Game Notes

The Kings improved to 10-2-0 at home this season...Los Angeles has won three straight against Detroit...Red Wings forward Kris Draper made his season debut. He missed the first 23 games because of a groin injury and a sports hernia.