Alex Iafallo was the overtime hero as the host Los Angeles Kings won their fourth straight game, a 3-2 victory over the slumping New Jersey Devils on Friday.
Adrian Kempe and Arthur Kailyev also scored for the Kings, who went on this streak after losing six straight games. Goaltender Cal Petersen made 21 saves.
After watching a regulation-time win disappear with a late Devils goal, Iafallo scored the winner 42 seconds into overtime with a quick shot from the slot set up by Phillip Danault. Iafallo’s fifth goal of the season extended his point-scoring streak to five games, in which he has netted four goals and seven points.
Jesper Bratt and Pavel Zacha replied for the Devils, who have lost three straight games — although two in extra time — and four of five. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 26 shots in his season debut.
Just as it appeared the clubs would reach the second intermission in a goalless tie, Kempe opened the scoring with 1.2 seconds left in the second period. Anze Kopitar stole the puck deep in the offensive zone and moved it to Dustin Brown, who sent a pass to the front of the net that Kempe redirected for his third goal of the season.
Bratt’s goal 3:19 into the third period drew the visitors even. The Kings entered the New Jersey zone on an odd-man rush, but Andreas Johnsson intercepted a pass. The puck went to Nico Hischier, who immediately fired a breakaway pass to Bratt. He juked and jived before depositing a forehand deke for his second tally of the campaign.
Kaliyev’s power-play goal with 3:40 left in regulation put the Kings up a second time when he found the mark with a shot from the top of the left circle.
However, Zacha’s marker — nearly identical to Kaliyev’s but from the top of the right circle — with 23.2 seconds on the clock sent the affair into extra time.
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–Field Level Media