Final: Kings 2, Bruins 1 (OT)

The Kings scored with .04 seconds remaining in OT for a 2-1 win over the Bruins.

The sequence started when Torey Krug made a mental mistake and iced the puck with .04 seconds. After the officials made the game clock .09 seconds, the Bruins were forced to keep Patrice Bergeron on the bench for a defensive-zone faceoff against Anze Kopitar. David Pastrnak had to take it instead, and put up little resistance as Kopitar won the faceoff to Tyler Toffoli, who miraculously one-timed it past Tuukka Rask.

https://twitter.com/LAKings/status/924471855422910464

After missing a total of three games (two sidelined and one as a backup) with a concussion, Rask finished with 28 saves.

Rask entered the game with a 1-3-0 with a 3.30 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage in four previous games. During his absence, backup Anton Khudobin earned points in all three starts he made while Rask was out.

Besides goaltending, Bruce Cassidy decided to go with the same lineup that produced a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday at TD Garden.

Fans were treated to two of the best two-way players of a generation tonight as the Bruins' Patrice Bergeron and the Kings' Anze Kopitar face off. Bergeron is a four-time Selke winner and Kopitar has won the award once.

Jonathan Quick (6-1-1/1.88/.944) played his 500^th career NHL game on Thursday and recorded a 40-save performance en route to a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. It was also his 46^th career shutout. Quick became the first goalie in franchise history, and the seventh American-born netminder in NHL history to appear in 500 games. The Milford, Conn., native and former UMass standout entered Saturday's game with a 9-4-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .931 SP, including two shutouts, in 13 career games against the Bruins.

Observations from the overtime

Anders Bjork is such a great skater.

Both Rask and Quick made tremendous saves.

Charlie McAvoy had two quality chances but Quick made two outstanding saves.

Observations from the third period

Entering this season, Bruce Cassidy discussed how important the team's penalty-killing unit would be for the Bruins' success. Playing an up-tempo, high-paced style is a breeding ground for penalties. So far in this game, Boston is 2-for-2 on the3 PK. Overall, the Bruins are 30-for-36 this season.

Because the Kings are a heavy team, it has the ability to sustain a forecheck, which is giving Boston's breakout a tough time.

Rask is the reason this game remains tied at 1-1 with nine minutes remaining. He posted the save of the game with 40.9 seconds remaining. The Kings created a sustained forecheck and the Bruins were exhausted. Los Angeles kept moving the puck around then finally it came to Alex Iafallo in the high slot, who ripped a quick wrister, but Rask snared it with his glove.

Observations from the second period

Riley Nash was not on the bench to start the period but he's back now.

Quick's ability to find the puck through traffic is impressive.

Similar to the adjustments David Pastrnak needed to make during and after his rookie season, current first-year pro Anders Bjork needs to get stronger, which he will as he gets older. He's a lot of fun to watch though.

Los Angeles is a heavy team and the Kings are finishing their checks tonight. Midway through the game and it's beginning to take a toll on the Bruins.

Remember that save Rask just made on Andy Andreoff's point-blank opportunity with seven minutes remaining in the period.

Observations from the first period

Charlie McAvoy now has seven assists and eight points in nine games this season. His confidence is building and it's evident with his decisions to jump into the play while creating scoring chances. That's exactly what happened on Boston's first goal of the game when McAvoy threaded a pass from the corner to Brad Marchand, who perfectly placed his redirect past Quick at 5:27 of the first period. It was Marchand's seventh goal of the season.

https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/924423359424843776

So far, the Kings are doing a solid job of shutting down Pastrnak.

Los Angeles tied the game at 1-1 on the Kings' first shot of the game. Tyler Toffoli scored the goal.

So far, Rask is showing no ill effects from his recent concussion.

The Bruins are intentionally taking high shots on Quick. He's been stunned a few times and had trouble controlling the rebounds, which is exactly what the Bruins want. Now, all they have to do is capitalize on those second chances for the game plan to be effective.

It a certainty every game that David Backes is going to be an opposing player on his backside. There's a couple of reasons why he's normally not penalized for his physical play. 1) Because of his veteran status and 2) His technique is sound as he keeps two hands on his stick and applies the stick check lower on the body, which sends the opponent flying. He does not have a penalty this season.

Nash was on the receiving end of a questionable hit by the Kings' Adrian Kempe in the final minute of the period. The two were engaged in the neutral zone when Kempe slammed Nash into the glass between the benches. Nash remained on the ice for a moment and trainer Don Del Negro tended to the injured player, who went to the locker room holding a towel over his face.

Bergeron and Kopitar went head-to-head on the faceoff dot five times in the first period and Bergeron has a 4-1 advantage. Overall, Bergeron went 5-for-6 and Kopitar went 3-for-8 in the opening 20 minutes.

Here are projected line combinations and pairings vs. Kings

Forwards

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork

DeBrusk-Backes-Pastrnak

Schaller-Kuraly-Heinen

Agostino-Nash-Vatrano

Defense

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Postma-Miller

Goalies

Rask

Khudobin