This wasn’t as dramatic as Derek Fisher’s game-winning shot for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, but for a few precious moments, the celebration felt like late spring. Joyous hops from the bench. Players mingled about as if a playoff series just ended. The 17,565 fans in TD Garden in disbelief.
It was a win in October, not May, but when Tyler Toffoli one-timed Anze Kopitar’s faceoff win with 0.4 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Kings a stunning 2-1 win Saturday against the Boston Bruins, it summed up the Kings’ season.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon again,” Kopitar said. “I’ve never seen it in my hockey career to work like that, or that fast.”
Kopitar lined up for a faceoff against David Pastrnak with 0.9 seconds on the clock and drew it right to Toffoli for his second goal of the game with 0.4 seconds left, the same time that remained when Fisher sank a winning shot in a 2004 playoff game.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Toffoli said. “First time I’ve done that.”
Much like the Kings’ 9-1-1 start, all the pieces fell into place. Kings coach John Stevens put right handers Toffoli and Pearson behind Kopitar to ensure a quick shot from the right side. The Bruins iced the puck and could not send out faceoff ace Patrice Bergeron.
After officials confirmed the goal against the clock, the Kings took their celebration to the dressing room with a 4-1 record on their six-game trip.
“I don’t want to get carried away,” Stevens said.
“It’s a huge win. We didn’t win a playoff series or anything, but it’s a big win.
“This group I thought battled hard. We told them sometimes it might take to the last second of a hockey game. I didn’t think it would be literally the last second.”
The line of Toffoli, Pearson and Adrian Kempe was strong all night, and the top line of Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Alex Iafallo was the Kings’ best in the final period.
Again, Jonathan Quick anchored it. He stopped a two-on-one, a break by Anders Bjork and another quality shot in the final three minutes of overtime in a superb matchup against Boston’s Tuukka Rask.
RESULTS
Kings 2 Bruins 1
Ducks 4 Lightning 1
Devils 4 Coyotes 3
Capitals 5 Oilers 2
Canadiens 5 Rangers 4
Blues 4 Blue Jackets 1
Islanders 6 Predators 2
Wild 2 Penguins 1
Avalanche 6 Blackhawks 3
Flyers 4 Maple Leafs 2
Sharks 3 Sabres 2
Red Wings 3 Panthers 2 (SO)