Gaborik’s goal lifts Kings over Penguins

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Marion Gaborik saw the momentum swing back and forth from the start. The Los Angeles Kings’ winger put a stop to it when he got a chance in the shootout.

Gaborik scored in the fourth round of the tiebreaker to lift Kings to their sixth straight win, 3-2 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.

Pittsburgh’s David Perron and the Kings’ Anze Kopitar both scored in the first round of the shootout. Gaborik, the eighth skater, then lifted the puck past Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and under the crossbar to decide it.

“We’ve been fortunate this year that we’ve been winning in overtime and shootouts (more) compared to last year, which is huge,” said Gaborik, whose Kings are 7-1 in games decided in overtime or a shootout. “I think it was a pretty game to watch for the fans.

“First period, we were strong. We got up 1-0, then second period, they took over. We were sloppy. Third period, again we got up 2-1 there and had some good looks. They tied it up late but we were able to find a way to win.”

Jake Muzzin and Tanner Pearson had Los Angeles’ goals in regulation, and Jonathan Quick stopped 40 shots through overtime. The Pacific Division-leading Kings have a point in eight straight games (7-0-1).

“They are . from what I’ve seen the best in the West,” said Penguins coach Mike Johnston, whose team lost in Los Angeles 5-3 six nights earlier. “They are right there with Dallas as the best in the West. They’re a hard team to play against. I thought our guys hung in there. They responded well.”

Eric Fehr and Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins, who were 5-2-1 in their last eight home games. Fleury had 38 saves.

Malkin had the tying goal with 1:10 left in regulation.

“It was fun to play,” Fleury said. “There was action on both sides.”

Los Angeles scored the only goal of the first period as Pearson got around Pittsburgh defenseman Ian Cole at the left point, carried the puck to the bottom of that circle and let loose with a shot that glanced off Fleury’s arm and into the net at 7:34.