Martinez, Kings get the job done late
Defenseman scores in overtime to help team wins its third in a row after a 0-3-0 start.
KINGS 3 COLUMBUS 2 (OT)
The Kings got through their morning skate and game without a goaltender getting injured.
Indeed, that represents progress around here.
After a rough first week, the Kings are trending up with three straight victories after starting the season 03-0. They rallied with a late goal in regulation Tuesday and won it in overtime, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-2, at Staples Center.
Defenseman Alec Martinez scored on the rebound of Tanner Pearson’s shot 1 minute 14 seconds into overtime, taking advantage of the weary Blue Jackets nearing the end of a shift. Martinez, who had his second overtime winner of the sea-
son, almost always gives credit to his teammates. And he did it again. “I feel like a broken record but Tanner and Tyler [Toffoli] just do the work and for some reason I end up getting it at the end,” Martinez said. “It was a really good rush . ... I just try to get the puck in their hands. They’re the really skilled ones. Tanner had a good shot and I was able to find the rebound back door.”
For Kings goalie Peter Budaj, who faced 21 shots, it was his third win in three starts this season. He won at Dallas on Thursday and at home, on Saturday, against Vancouver, in a shootout. His other appearance came in relief of Kings goalie Jeff Zatkoff at Minnesota last week.
“I think we just stuck to our game,” said Martinez. “We were really happy with our first period. We had a couple of breakdowns in the second period and they capitalized.”
The Kings’ patience eventually paid off with defenseman Drew Doughty’s goal with 5:57 remaining in regulation to tie it 2-2, as Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky let in a soft goal. Center Nick Shore found Doughty deep in the circle and his shot went over Bobrovsky’s pad and under his blocker.
Columbus led 2-1 after two periods.
The Blue Jackets took the lead when Kings forward Dustin Brown went off for holding Lukas Sedlak and their potent power play capitalized.
Cam Atkinson scored at 14:51 of the second, beating Budaj with a shot from the left circle, taking a feed across the slot from Sam Gagner.
“It’s a hell of a play,” Atkinson said in his TV interview after the period. “That’s what [Gagner] brings to this team. He’s an offensive guy.”
The Kings had tied it, 1-1, on a nice-looking give-andgo between center Anze Kopitar and defenseman Tom Gilbert at 13:40 of the second, with Gilbert finding Kopitar in the left circle. It was Kopitar’s second goal of the season.
Earlier, the Kings’ search for organizational goaltending depth led them to sign veteran Swedish goalie Anders Lindback to a professional tryout.
Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi confirmed the move but said Lindback would be joining their minor league affiliate in Ontario. The move was first reported by the Swedish newspaper Expressen.
Essentially, the Kings have nothing to lose. Most recently, Lindback, who is 28, had a shot in New Jersey’s training camp but the Devils did not retain him. His last NHL gig was last season with the Arizona Coyotes as he went 5-7-1 and had a goals-against average of 3.11.