Flyers fall to the Kings, 3-2, in shootout

COMING INTO the 2015-16 season, it was obvious there would be certain nights that the Flyers' top line and goalie Steve Mason would need to win games for them.

That almost happened Tuesday, but Los Angeles' Milan Lucic tallied a heartbreaking, game-tying goal with 55.7 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

An action-packed, back-and-forth overtime session saw no winner and the Kings eventually took the game in a shootout and robbed the Flyers of a much-needed second point in a 3-2 win.

Flyers captain Claude Giroux broke a 1-1 tie at 11 minutes, 11 seconds into the third period, scoring his team-leading sixth goal off a feed from Jake Voracek. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick never really saw Giroux' shot attempt until it was already behind him.

The Flyers' top line buzzed all night and in the overtime session. Both Giroux and Voracek missed their shootout attempts, though, and Anze Kopitar's tally for the Kings (12-6-0) was the only one of the shootout session.

"It was the first time in 18 games that we played really good hockey," Voracek said. "We were moving well. We were moving a lot through the neutral zone . . . I think it was the best game so far for our line this season."

For the first time all year, that line featured left winger Brayden Schenn instead of Michael Raffl. Schenn recorded a game-high eight shots on net.

Mason, who found out at the morning skate that he was starting, thwarted a Kings assault from the time the puck dropped after Giroux' goal until Lucic knocked home the tying goal after a wild scramble in front of the net.

Mason made 38 saves in regulation and overtime.

"There's 10 guys or so in front," said Mason. "Can't see a thing."

Quick was equally strong, stopping 36 of the 38 shots the Flyers put on goal.

The overtime session included five shots on goal per team. Mason and Quick both made impressive saves to keep the game going. Quick disrupted a Giroux breakaway attempt with a smart stick check.

"I knew that he's pretty good at poke-checking the puck like that," Giroux said. "That's a deep burn there, but I have to find a way to get a better chance."

It was the Flyers' seventh game to go into overtime and only the second to reach a shootout. The action throughout the five minutes showed why.

"It's wild out there," Mason said. "Chances at both ends. Fortunately tonight for the goaltenders, no goals were scored in it."

Shayne Gostisbehere, in his second game since being called up from Lehigh Valley, scored his first NHL goal to open the scoring less than four minutes into the game. The 22-year-old defenseman replaced injured defenseman Mark Streit on the top power-play unit and immediately paid dividends.

The goal was set up by a Voracek cross-ice pass from the corner, out to Giroux at the top of the circle. Giroux fed a pass over to Gostisbehere, who pounded a one-timer past Quick.

"I feel comfortable," Gostisbehere said of playing on the top power-play unit. "It's the guys around me, they build me up and give me all the confidence in the world. They let me go bombs away there."

The Flyers had their best first period in quite some time, registering 14 shots on goal.

The Kings, however, scored with just under five minutes to play in the period. With Nick Schultz in the penalty box for interference, Los Angeles defenseman Jamie McBain took advantage of a Marian Gaborik screen in front of Mason to fire a shot past the Flyers goaltender.

Schenn nearly broke the 1-1 deadlock midway through the second period. A scramble in front resulted in the puck ringing off the post and in the crease behind Quick. While being taken to the ice, Schenn's skate made a motion at the puck and knocked it toward the net. The puck crossed the line after Quick made contact with it.

Referee Dan O'Halloran originally ruled no goal while at the net. At center ice, he changed it to a good goal but said it would be reviewed. The Situation Room ruled it was not a goal and that Schenn had distinctly kicked it, citing Rule 49.2.

The rule states: "A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who kicks a puck that deflects into the net off any player, goalkeeper or official."

"To be honest, I didn't mean to kick it," Schenn said. "Apparently it was offside as well; they were going to challenge, that's what we were told."

The Flyers (6-8-4), of course, eventually got the go-ahead goal they needed. But they left a second point on the ice.

"I always call a spade a spade, good or bad," coach Dave Hakstol said. "Our team played well tonight."