John Moore gets OT winner in Devils' 2-1 victory over Kings

LOS ANGELES (AP) John Moore isn't much of a goal-scorer until overtime. That's when New Jersey's big defenseman suddenly becomes clutch.

He did it again Saturday night as the Devils snared their second straight victory over a Western Conference power.

Moore circled the net and scored with 15.2 seconds left in overtime, and the Devils beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1.

While they still face an uphill climb to the playoff picture with eight losses in 12 games overall, the Devils are having some memorable moments in California.

Jonathan Quick stopped 22 shots for Los Angeles, but couldn't stop Moore from skating out in front and beating him with a short-angled shot for the defenseman's first goal since Jan. 2 - also an overtime winner.

''I'm fortunate I was given a little time to play overtime, and I'm playing with some great players,'' said Moore, who only has one non-OT goal this year. ''We have a lot of resolve in here, and we seem to find a way to win those games. They're fun to play in.''

Tyler Kennedy scored 1:12 into the first period for the Devils, who followed up their win at San Jose with a defense-dominated victory over the Pacific Division leaders. They played 63 1/2 minutes of scoreless hockey between goals, but blocked enough shots to help out backup goalie Keith Kinkaid, who beat Los Angeles for the second time this season.

Kinkaid made 22 saves, following up his first NHL shutout against the Kings last month with another solid performance. The backup stopped 49 of the Kings' 50 shots against him this season.

''They're a big, strong team, and I think we had them on their heels a little bit,'' Kinkaid said. ''It was a great effort by everyone. Our guys are playing great in front of me. It's not necessarily anything I'm doing. I think they were taking their big guys out of the game and not giving them second chances.''

Anze Kopitar scored in the second period for the Kings, who wrapped up a five-game homestand with seven points and a two-point lead over Anaheim atop the Pacific Division. Los Angeles blew a three-goal lead in its 4-3 overtime victory over NHL-leading Washington on Wednesday, and coach Darryl Sutter wondered whether he gave his players too much time off in the previous two days.

''A continuation of the third period against Washington seeped into our game tonight,'' Kings captain Dustin Brown said. ''We've got to start on time.''

Kinkaid earned his first career shutout against the Kings last month in Newark, New Jersey, and he looked sharp when he got a second start against them with Cory Schneider sidelined by a sprained right knee.

The standing-room-only crowd at Staples Center was largely still standing when Kennedy put the Devils ahead, swatting home his third goal of the season amid a disorganized Los Angeles defense.

After scoring nine goals in their previous two games, the Kings seemed offensively tepid from the start. Los Angeles managed just four shots in the first period despite three power plays, and a four-minute power play early in the second period yielded only four more shots and no serious scoring chances.

''I think the energy level tonight wasn't where it needed to be, especially at the start,'' Kopitar said. ''We just didn't play the way we need to to win a game, especially at this time of the year.''

The Kings finally took charge for a long stretch late in the second, and Kopitar slipped home a rebound for the franchise center's 21st goal of the season.

Brown hit the post with 2:05 left in regulation, keeping him goalless since Feb. 9 and pointless since Feb. 16.

NOTES: Jordin Tootoo sat out for New Jersey with an upper-body injury. ... The Devils' trip concludes Monday at Anaheim. They won't go farther west than Columbus for the rest of the season. ... The Kings open a high-profile road trip to Central Division powers Chicago and Dallas on Monday at United Center. ... Milan Lucic has an assist in five straight games for Los Angeles, matching the longest such streak of his career.