National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Los Angeles 3, Pittsburgh 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 27, 2014
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Referees: Steve Kozari, Justin St. Pierre
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, John Grandt
Attendance: 18650

Kings 3, Penguins 2: Defenseman Drew Doughty scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Martin Jones made 35 saves as visiting Los Angeles prevented Pittsburgh from securing a playoff berth.

Jeff Carter and blue-liner Alec Martinez also tallied for the Kings, who remained eight points ahead of Phoenix for third place in the Pacific Division. Jones was sensational in preserving the victory, holding the league's best power play scoreless on seven opportunities.

Chris Kunitz and Taylor Pyatt scored for the Penguins, who remained one point shy of clinching a postseason spot. Jeff Zatkoff stopped 29 shots in defeat.

Carter netted the only goal of the opening period, redirecting Marian Gaborik's shot past Zatkoff from point-blank range in the latter stages of a power-play opportunity. After Martinez and Kunitz traded tallies 34 seconds apart in the second session, Pyatt drew the Penguins even at 15:42 on a shot that caromed off Jones' shoulder and trickled over the goal line.

Doughty gave the Kings the lead for good 3:51 into the third, teeing off on a drop pass by captain Dustin Brown from well inside the blue line and beating Zatkoff low to the glove side. Brandon Sutter appeared to score the tying goal just before the midway point of the period, but it was waved off due to goaltender interference and Pittsburgh couldn't get the equalizer

GAME NOTEBOOK: Thursday marked the final game for the Kings against the Eastern Conference. They'll play six of their last eight contests against Pacific Division rivals, with the last two coming versus Calgary and Edmonton. ... Kings LW Tanner Pearson drew the second assist on Doughty's goal, his first in the NHL. The 21-year-old came into the night with two goals in 18 games. ... Penguins captain Sidney Crosby recorded his NHL-best 96th point with an assist on Kunitz's goal.
Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Pittsburgh
Jeff Carter 1 Points Chris Kunitz 1
Jeff Carter 1 Goals Chris Kunitz 1
Dustin Brown 1 Assists Sidney Crosby 1
Jeff Carter 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Martin Jones .946 Save Percentage Jeff Zatkoff .906
Martin Jones 35 Saves Jeff Zatkoff 29
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 32 3 1-3 7-7 14 30
Pittsburgh 37 2 0-7 2-3 6 28
Upcoming Games
  • Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against Columbus. The Penguins have a W/L % of .638 after a win and .615 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Kings have a W/L % of .643 after a win and .500 after a loss.