Evgeny Kuznetsov’s tiebreaking goal with 2:02 remaining, off an assist from Justin Williams, lifted the Washington Capitals to a 3-1 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.
Kuznetsov’s 16th goal but first in a month gave him 20 points in his past 14 games. Andre Burakovsky got a secondary assist on the goal after tying the score with 48.1 seconds left in the second period. Jason Chimera added an empty-netter with 8.6 seconds left.
Anze Kopitar put Los Angeles ahead in the first period on a short-handed goal.
Washington goalie Philipp Grubauer, getting a rare start in place of Braden Holtby, made a season-high 39 saves.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, back after missing three games with a lower-body injury, finished with 29 stops.
Washington won despite a quiet night for Alex Ovechkin, whose four-game goal streak ended, and the team’s league-best power play, which went 0-for-5, managed a total of only five shots in 10 minutes with the man-advantage.
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Kopitar scored his 17th goal while Los Angeles was killing a penalty with a little under 3:30 left in the first period.
Defenseman Drew Doughty set it up by diving headfirst in front of the crease and reaching out with his stick to poke away a pass intended for Ovechkin, camped out in his usual power-play spot near the left circle. Dustin Brown corralled the puck and took it up the right wing before sending it cross-ice.
Kopitar’s initial shot was blocked, but he lifted the rebound over Grubauer from a tough angle on the left side of the net.
Washington made it 1-1 when Burakovsky redirected a puck that Dmitry Orlov put in front of the net. It was Burakovsky’s 12th goal.
Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik earned the secondary assist in his return to action after missing the previous 40 games with a lower-body injury. Orpik’s presence was acknowledged in the first period by a roar from the crowd when his No. 44 was shown on the overhead scoreboard.
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