Kings Battle Back to Take Down Bruins in Shootout

The Bruins had a breakdown on defense and couldn't protect the cursed two-goal lead in Los Angeles as the Kings fought back to beat the B's 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday.

The Bruins blew their second third-period lead in the last three games, dropping their final game of the West Coast road trip in disappointing fashion.

Kings 4, Bruins 3 (SO)
Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
Jan. 16, 2010

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Headliner: Dustin Brown pulled the Kings to within one with his 12th goal of the season at 10:32 of the third period, but Brown wasn't finished there. The Ithaca, N.Y. native put away the Black and Gold with an impressive move in the third round of the shootout, finding just enough room between Tim Thomas and the ice to seal the win for the Kings.

Grinder: Anze Kopitar is sitting on the doorstep of his fourth straight 20-goal season after netting his 19th against the Bruins. Kopitar knotted the game at 3 when he found the back of the net with 12:54 to play in the third.

Weak Link: It looked like the defense of the Bruins would lead them to their second win in a row, but instead it was the defense that faltered late to hand them a loss. The B's were unable to hold their two-goal advantage against the Kings in the third period, despite a stellar effort in goal from Tim Thomas. Thomas turned away 31 shots in the game, but the Bruins were outplayed, allowing 10 more shots to the Kings. The Bruins were outshot in every period on Saturday and were unable to slow the top scoring threats on Los Angeles when it mattered most.

Key Moment: Leading 3-1 with just under 10 minutes to play, the Bruins couldn't keep the momentum from escaping them. The Kings had been turned away time and again by Tim Thomas, but Dustin Brown broke through to bring the Kings within one, tilting the ice in favor of L.A. It didn't take long for the Kings to fully take control of the game, as just over two minutes later, Anze Kopitar tied the game, taking a point away from the Bruins in the standings in the process.

What's Next: The Bruins return home after a three-game road trip on Monday to host the Senators in a Martin Luther King Day matinee. The B's play three games in the coming week and all of them at home, as they host the Blue Jackets on Thursday and the Senators again on Saturday.