Kings ruin Penguins’ happy trot

Alex Kunawicz

• Last Updated: November 06. 2009 7:22PM UAE / November 6. 2009 3:22PM GMT

Anze Kopitar, No 11, says the Los Angeles Kings are playing with more desperation this season. Harry How / Getty Images

The Los Angeles Kings scored four times in the third period in a 5-2 win that ended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ perfect road record.

Pittsburgh, coming into the game a perfect 7-0-0 on their travels, took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Jordan Staal and Chris Kunitz.

But the NHL’s leading points-scorer Anze Kopitar scored his second goal of the game to level things at 2-2 early in the third period.

Jarret Stoll, Michal Handzus and Dustin Brown then all found the back of the net as the Kings outclassed the Stanley Cup champions. “We’re playing with a lot of desperation, and that’s a good thing,” said Kopitar.

“We were losing these kinds of games last year, going into the third period behind the champions. Now we’re sticking with it for 60 minutes and getting the right result.”

Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma later admitted: “You can’t deny that [Los Angeles] played well. They forced us into a lot of the mistakes that we made. No matter how well you play defensively, when you’re forced to play back there for long periods of time, there are going to be loose pucks, and some of them can end up in your net.”

The New York Rangers halted their run of four straight road defeats by winning 4-2 in Edmonton. Former Oiler Ales Kotalik scored a goal and two assists.

“Our forechecking was much better and we played smart through the neutral zone. We found a way to score a few goals and win a game,” said Rangers coach John Tortorella.

While the Oilers slumped to a third defeat in a row, there was better news for four other Canadian teams.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 in the shootout, with Michael Cammalleri scoring the winner.

Patrice Bergeron equalised for Boston with 52 seconds left to stop the Bruins being shut-out for a record third straight time.

“We scored,” said Boston forward Blake Wheeler. “Obviously, that’s a positive we can take out of the game.”

The Ottawa Senators needed overtime to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2, with Jason Spezza scoring the winner after setting up the first two goals on his return from injury.

“He’s a big part of our team,” said goalie Pascal Leclaire about Spezza. “He’s a presence. When he has the puck he can do so many things.

“He makes the defence back up a little bit and keeps them thinking so obviously you want him on your team and he played great tonight.”

And overtime was also required by the Calgary Flames, who defeated the St Louis Blues 2-1, with Dion Phaneuf grabbing the winner.

The Vancouver Canucks beat the out-of-sorts Minnesota Wild 5-2, with goals from five different players. “You’re not going to win with one line and you’re not going to win with two lines,” said Canucks winger Mikael Samuelsson.

“You’re going to win with your whole team and that’s what we did tonight. It’s huge.”

Raffi Torres scored twice as the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3, while the San Jose Sharks failed to make it seven wins in a row, losing 2-1 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings. The Anaheim Ducks shut out the Nashville Predators 4-0 and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1.

akunawicz@thenational.ae