NEWARK, N.J. -- Los Angeles Kings legend Anze Kopitar set the franchise points record in dramatic fashion on Saturday with a tying goal against the Devils but Los Angeles couldn’t snare a point as New Jersey scored late and went to win 6-4.
With the Kings trailing 4-3 late in the see-saw contest, the 38-year-old Slovenian forward banged his second goal of the night past Devils goaltender Jake Allen. It was the 450th tally of his prolific career and moved him past Marcel Dionne with 1,308 career points with Los Angeles.
Kings teammates mobbed their captain in a corner next to the Devils net as New Jersey fans offered polite applause for this unique accomplishment for a franchise that began play in 1967-68.
But then New Jersey's Jack Hughes scored on the power-play at 17:31 and Timo Meier added an empty-netter and the Devils doused Kopitar’s monumental night and kept New Jersey’s slim playoff hopes alive.
“It would feel a lot better if we finished it off and won the game,’’ Kopitar said in a quiet post-game locker room.
Los Angeles was coming off a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Islanders at UBS Arena on Friday night to move back into playoff position ahead of San Jose, Seattle and Nashville in a crowded Western Conference wild card race.
Interim Kings head coach D.J. Smith said he was thrilled for his captain but vexed by the outcome.
“He’s been unbelievable. He continues to be one of our best players every single night,’’ Smith said. “It’s very disappointing that we couldn’t get it across the line tonight.”
The Kings fell behind early on goals by Cody Glass and Devils captain Nico Hischier but rallied mightily in the second as Kopitar scored his first of the night at 4:15 on the power-play.
New teammate Artemi Panarin fired home his third goal since joining the Kings in a trade from the Rangers at 6:03 and the game was tied.
Taylor Ward notched his third of the season at 11:43 and the Kings were rolling with a lead into the third period as they sought to win their third in four road games on this current five-game trip.
But New Jersey rookie Arseny Gritsyuk scored just 25 seconds into the third period to change the tone yet again. Hischier notched his second of the night on the power-play at 12:42 to put the home team ahead 4-3.
“Going into the third being up by one, it’s obviously not ideal to get scored on – on the first shift,’’ Kopitar said. “We came back and tied it up after that but we couldn’t close it.”
Kopitar said his family was waiting for him after the game in New York and he would celebrate with them ahead of Monday’s trip-concluding game at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers.
Asked if he was getting nostalgic as his finale season winds down in making his last stop in New Jersey, Kopitar said he’s not mulling the retirement zone yet.
“We're right in the thick of things right now so there's not a whole lot of time to think about that,'' he said.
As the Islanders did on Friday night, Devils players lined up to shake hands with Kopitar at center ice just after the frenzied third period ended.
“I appreciate all the battles we've gone through with the guys - with Jersey or another team,'' Kopitar added. ”It's been an honor."
The Kings beat the Devils in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final in six games for their first Stanley Cup, then defeated the Rangers in 2014 in five games for their second.
Kopitar’s teammates sure appreciate him and being able to share such a special snapshot in Kings history.
“I think everyone on this team will remember the moment regardless of where they were on the ice. That was awesome,’’ said defenseman Brandt Clarke who assisted on Kopitar's record-setting goal along with Panarin. “We are so happy for him. We knew it was coming. He’s just a special person. It’s a good feeling for all of us to see him accomplish that.”
Kings president Luc Robitaille has the most goals in Kings history with 557. Dionne, who skated in purple and gold from 1975-76 until he was traded to the Rangers in March 1987.
During Robitaille's rookie season in 1986-87, he and Jimmy Carson were the newcomers taking advice from the wise 35-year-old Dionne.
Dionne was a scoring machine – seven times he scored 50 or more goals with the Kings – and he also centered the famed "Triple Crown Line" with Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor during the late 1970s and early 80s.
Kopitar has been remarkably steady throughout two decades in Los Angeles. His record-setting goal on Saturday was his 10th this season, marking the 20th-straight campaign he has reached double digits in goals. His 450 career goals now go with his franchise-best 858 assists into the record book.
Robitaille was present as fresh Kings history was carved at Prudential Center after four decades after his debut season in California.
“It's incredible what he's accomplished in his career. Plus, he led our team to win two Stanley Cups,’’ Robitallie said of the new Kings points leader. “They're two different players. Marcel, what he's meant to the L.A. Kings is amazing. And Anze, he's become the greatest L.A. King ever."
