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(Sports Network) - Michal Rozsival tallied the game-winner with 1:19 left in overtime, and the New York Rangers found a way to defeat the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, at Staples Center.
Rozsival also scored on a penalty shot in the second period for the Rangers, who have won three straight and four of five. Chris Drury had the other goal for New York, while Stephen Valiquette made 39 saves in the victory.
"We played hard, but they really played much better in the first period," Rozsival said. "Valiquette played unbelievable today, hes the reason we had any chance to win this game. We are very happy about the win tonight and these were a huge two points tonight."
Patrick O'Sullivan and Dustin Brown had goals for the Kings, who have lost two straight. Brown also had an assist, while Jason LaBarbera allowed three goals on 30 shots in taking the loss.
"We played so well. I don't think we're capable of playing any better as a team right now," Kings head coach Terry Murray said. "We come out and we do everything the right way at the start of the game. The shots were (14)-to-3 at the end of the first period, we got the first goal of the game and we just continued to build on it. I thought the team effort was just tremendous."
Tied at one in the second, Rozsival was awarded a penalty shot after a Kings player was called for throwing a stick at a New York player. On the shot, Rozsival faked to his backhand and lifted the puck over LaBarbara's right pad for the goal at 12:33.
"I knew there was a penalty going to be called, but I thought we were just going to be on the power play 5-on-3," Rozsival said. "It happened so quick, and Im not used to doing this, I just wanted to go backhand, I made up my mind at the red line, just happy I was able to score."
The Kings tied the game early in the third. Sean O'Donnell took a shot from the right circle, and Brown found the rebound in the crease and stuffed it home, 2:27 into the period.
LaBarbera made an excellent save on Drury in overtime to keep the game tied, and the rebound bounced to the corner. Marc Staal battled for the loose puck and found a way to dish it back to Rozsival in the right circle, and Rozsival blasted a slapshot over LaBarbera's left shoulder for the game-winner.
The Kings got on the board late in the first period. O'Sullivan took a feed across the crease from Anze Kopitar and beat Valiquette before the netminder got his glove on it.
Despite LA's outshooting New York 14-3 in the opening 20 minutes, the Rangers tied the game in the final minute of the first. Drury took a loose puck to the slot and launched a wrist shot that tipped off LaBarbera's glove and into the back of the net with 44 seconds on the clock.
Game Notes
New York didn't register its first shot on net until 11:17 into the first period...LaBarbera was a third-round pick of the Rangers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Valiquette was an eighth-round pick of the Kings in the 1996 draft. Both LaBarbera and Valiquette played with each other at Hartford of the AHL...This marked New York's first visit to LA since October 30, 2006...The Rangers will take on San Jose on Saturday, while the Kings will travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Friday.
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