2 studs, 1 dud from LA Kings grimy overtime win v. Vancouver

Coming off a shocking 5-4 shootout loss on the road on Black Friday against the Pacific Division foe Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings (12-6-7) had to grind out a 2-1 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks (10-13-3) on Saturday night (Nov. 29). This is nothing we wouldn't expect from the Kings and head coach Jim Hiller on the ice this fall against the Canucks this regular season.

Adrian Kempe and Anton Forsberg lead the Los Angeles Kings to a messy overtime win over Vancouver

The Kings showed some grit and toughness through major power play issues on special teams to get two points in the standings in the West this weekend with an overtime win over the Canucks.

Center captain Anze Kopitar opened up the scoring last night for the Kings at Crypto.com Arena, scoring a nice goal from the high slot to get LA on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period vs. Vancouver. The Kings took the momentum on the ice late in the opening frame, which was a good start for the team this weekend in the back end of back-to-back games in the Pacific Division in the West.

Vancouver got momentum on the ice and on the scoreboard in the game's second period in the middle frame when the Kings gave up a breakaway coming out of the penalty box. The Canucks got more scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances around the net, taking advantage of a Kings' mistake in the game's second period yesterday.

The game remained tied 1-1 on the scoreboard until the clock showed zeroes at the end of the final frame in the third period. Adrian Kempe ended the game in overtime, ripping one home on a 2-on-1 break to give the Kings the win and the two points in the standings in the Pacific Division in the West.

Here are two studs, and one dud, from the Kings' 2-1 overtime win over the Canucks at home at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 29.

Stud: Anton Forsberg, G

Backup goalie Anton Forsberg has been playing very consistent in net for the Kings in the past few weeks this fall early in this regular season. Forsberg has stopped every one of the over two dozen shots he's faced in clutch time in the third period in the past three starts for the Kings, all of which LA got points out of in the West.

Forsberg stopped all seven shots, including a couple of high-danger scoring chances (per Natural Stat Trick) that he faced yesterday in the third period in clutch time against the Canucks.

"It helps a lot. One, it makes it harder on the forecheckers, knowing where to go, but if he can even bypass us and get it up to the forwards, makes everyone’s job a little bit easier, get it in their hands quicker and let them try and play offense. He was great tonight, big saves when we needed him, but playing the puck is good for us."

Mikey Anderson on Anton Forsberg

He made some tremendous saves for the Kings down the stretch in the game's second and third period against some good Vancouver playmakers offensively.

The only goal scored on Forsberg yesterday by the Canucks was a tally that I can't really blame him at all for letting in the goal. The Kings players were unaware at the end of the power play on special teams on the 5-on-4, which let Evander Kane get a clean breakaway goal against Forsberg yesterday.