Moore OT goal lifts Devils past Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Defenseman John Moore carved out a place in New Jersey Devils history alongside Hockey Hall of Fame member Scott Niedermayer on Saturday.
Moore scored with 16 seconds left in overtime to give the Devils a 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.

It was Moore's third overtime goal this season. The only other Devils defenseman to score three overtime goals in a season was Niedermayer, who had four in 2001-02. Moore has 13 goals in his 291-game NHL career.
"The guys were joking with me," Moore said. "I'm fortunate in getting the opportunity to play a little overtime and play with great players. We have a lot resolve in here. We seem to find a way to win those games, and they're fun to play in."
Moore drove wide behind the net, turned and beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick to the short side.
"Originally, I thought I had enough speed, maybe I could wrap it," Moore said. "He got over really quickly … he kind of cheated off the near-side post. I just tried to throw it quick there, and fortunately enough it went in."

The Devils (33-29-7) are 2-0-0 on their three-game California trip, which ends Monday at the Anaheim Ducks.
Keith Kinkaid made 22 saves and has stopped 49 of 50 shots against the Kings this season, also winning 1-0 on Feb. 14 at Prudential Center. The Devils blocked 29 shots Saturday.
"Our guys are playing great in front of me," Kinkaid said. "It's not necessarily anything I'm doing. I think they've taken their big guys out of the game and not given them second chances. That was the key."
Kings forward Anze Kopitar made it 1-1 from the slot at 14:36 of the second period after a long sequence in New Jersey's zone when Los Angeles changed lines three times. Defenseman Alec Martinez's shot bounced off the end boards, and Kopitar beat a sprawled Kinkaid past his glove for his 21st goal.

Los Angeles was dormant for the first half of the game. The Kings (40-22-5) had four shots in the first period despite having three power plays; they had the man-advantage for 10:00 of the first 27:03 but didn't score.
"I don't think the energy level tonight was where it needed to be, especially right off the start," Kopitar said. "The power play was not on tonight. We just didn't play the way we need to win the game, especially at this time of year."
Tyler Kennedy gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead 1:12 into the first period when he converted Devante Smith-Pelly's rebound after a miscue between Trevor Lewis and Jake Muzzin resulted in a Kings turnover.
"They scored the first goal, so you chase the game a little bit, and that's how they played," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "[The Devils] check, and our power play couldn't generate much, and it kind of deflated us a little."