Kings produce LA Story in Boston Kopitar, Clark are heroes of the Tale

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There are Hollywood stories, and then there are LA Stories.

On Saturday afternoon, the latter was in production in Boston,

With 1:35 left in regulation, and the Kings on a power play, and an extra skater, Anze Kopitar was left alone in front of the Bruins net to deflect home a Drew Doughty shot from the left point to tie the game, 4-4.

That was just just the prologue to the story.

In extra time, LA’s Brandt Clarke, who had been called for a hook at 2::24 of the extra session, broke out of the penalty box and collected a loose puck  and broke in for the game-winner with 27 seconds left on the clock for a 5-4 win to the Kings.

It was Clark’s first career NHL goal.

“My heart was racing for a while in the penalty box,” Clarke said. “I think from when I touched [the puck] at the red line to when everyone [was] just jumping on me, I don’t even really remember that section, but that was pretty wild. [I’m] happy we got the job done.”

David Rittich made 28 saves in the win.

The Kings moved to 26-16-10 off their fourth win in five games.

“On a game like today, where it took everybody, it’s hard to single anybody out,” Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller said. “Just up and down the lineup, you’ve got to give credit to everybody.”

Boston’s James Van Riemsdyk hit for a double in the opening stanza. gave

He scored his first at 8:03 of the first to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

LA replied with a a marker from Matt Roy at 11:02 for a 1-1 tie.

Van Riemsdyk collected his double at 14:45 to send the game to the middle frame with the Bruins up, 2-1..

“A couple bounces go our way, maybe we’re having a different conversation,” van Riemsdyk said. “But unfortunately, it didn’t. So, I think, [it’s] just a matter of sticking with it, getting back tomorrow, having a good day of practice and being ready to go for a big game [against the Dallas Stars] on Monday.”

The Bruins stretched the lead to 3-1 on a goal by Anthony Richard at 13:04 of the second.

“It was awesome,” Richard said. “Last year, I scored I think three goals [with the Montreal Canadiens], but they were all on the road, so scoring at home, it’s always more special.”

The Bruins dropped to 32-12-11 off their second straight loss.

“You’ve got to close out a game,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “You’re up twice in the third period and you don’t close it out, and then in overtime, our power play has got to put it away.”

The Kings rallied back for a pair of goals with Vladislav Gavrikov trimming the deficit to 3-2 at 16:38 of the middle frame off a direct shot from the blueline.

LA knotted it up, 3-3, when Alex Laferriere potted a goal at 5:51 of the third period off melee in front of the Boston cage.

“I think that’s two really good teams going at it,” Laferriere said. “A lot of emotion comes with that. I think [Andreas Englund] set the tone right from the start there with that fight [against Frederic at 11:02 of the first period] that we’re swinging right now, and we need to win games. So yeah, I think that definitely felt playoff-like.”

The Bruins reclaimed the lead at 7:12 of the third off a goal from Trent Frederic  to set up the LA Story finish. 

Linus Ullmark made 30 saves in the loss.