Kings’ Tanner Pearson gets his first point of season in overtime win
Kings left wing Tanner Pearson set up the game-winning goal in overtime Friday night.
The effort displayed by an exhausted-looking Anze Kopitar leading up to his goal in overtime Friday against Minnesota was impressive, even for veteran Kopitar watchers.
But Kings left wing Tanner Pearson helped make it possible with a savvy play, showing poise and patience as he held on to the puck long enough for teammate defenseman Jake Muzzin to get back onside.
“I was more worried about anyone behind me,” Pearson said. “I didn’t know where Kopi was either. He could have been offside as well. All I saw was Muzz in front of me, so I just waited till he got onside.
“Everyone was praying — I know I was — that Kopi would at least hit the net, if not score. If not, it’s going the other way.”
Three on three in overtime is still so fresh and new. What thrills the fans is nerve-racking for the adjusting players, including the speedy Pearson.
“It can be really good or it can cause a really bad situation if you don’t do things right,” he said.
For Pearson, the assist was his first point of the season. It was the first goal of the season for Kopitar, who played 24-plus minutes. Kings Coach Darryl Sutter noted those big minutes were not ideal for Kopitar and the Kings, who won their first game after suffering three losses to start the season.
“We need to get a few more minutes out of our [other] centermen,” Sutter said. “If he [Kopitar] is a 24-minute guy, he shouldn’t be a 24-minute guy. It’s like talking about [Drew] Doughty last year. Thirty minutes is not good for your team.
“For Kopi, in the long haul, 24 minutes is not the right number either. Those four, five [extra] minutes should be going somewhere else. We need production out of that other four, five minutes. Some guys aren’t matching up.”
TONIGHT
VS. COLORADO
When: 7.
On the air: FS West. Radio: 790.
Etc: The Kings had an optional practice Saturday. Sutter said that defenseman Brayden McNabb, who blocked a shot in Friday’s 2-1 overtime victory, was fine and wanted to practice but the coach thought it would be better for him to stay off the ice. Avalanche center John Mitchell has scored in all four games, becoming the third player in franchise (Colorado/Quebec) history to do so, joining Michel Goulet (1983-84) and Mats Sundin (1992-93).
Twitter: @reallisa
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