The Flyers were less than a minute away from a victory.
With the Flyers clinging onto a 2-1 lead late in the third period, Steve Mason did everything he could to keep the puck out of the net but the defense in front of him collapsed.
An unmarked Milan Lucic deposited a puck past Mason to force overtime and the Kings eventually topped the Flyers, 3-2, in a shootout Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
After a wild three-on-three overtime in which chances were traded back and forth for the entire five-minute frame, Anze Kopitar scored the lone goal in the shootout to give Los Angeles the win.
Claude Giroux ripped a shot from the slot 11:11 into the third period to initially give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Jakub Voracek made a nifty pass on the play to get it to Giroux, who now has a team-high six goals this season.
Giroux finished the night with a goal and an assist and Voracek added two helpers while skating with new linemate Brayden Schenn on the top forward unit.
NHL
Not so fast
The Flyers thought they had the go-ahead goal midway through the second period but, after a lengthy video review, officials ruled that Schenn kicked the puck past Jonathan Quick during a scramble in front. The goal was disallowed and the game remained tied at 1-1.
The negated call killed some of the Flyers’ momentum. Schenn, Giroux and Voracek were buzzing in the offensive zone on that shift, moving the puck well and attacking the front of the net with authority.
Power play
The Flyers’ first man advantage was a beauty. Some tic-tac-toe passing from Voracek and Giroux led to a wide-open one-time opportunity at the point for rookie Shayne Gostisbehere, who fired a rocket past Quick to open the scoring. It was also Gostisbehere’s first career NHL tally. Aside from the first PP, the Flyers couldn’t really get much going.
Errant passes, failed keep-ins and hesitation with the puck cost them and they finished 1 for 5 while up a man.
Penalty kill
Jamie McBain netted a power-play marker for the Kings in the first period. Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn appeared to screen Mason on the play.
The Flyers killed off Los Angeles’ only other attempt on the PP.
Honoring No. 12
The Flyers celebrated Simon Gagne’s retirement with a video tribute before he dropped the ceremonial first puck (see video). In between the first and second periods, Gagne was asked to describe what it was like to play in Philadelphia.
“This is a tough place to be," Gagne said. "The fans are so into it and I was here for 12 years, only two years in L.A., one in Boston, and one in Tampa. So I have a better taste of what’s going on here in Philly, but at the same time every time you jump on the ice, especially in the playoffs the crowd is so into it and they give you energy even when you have a hard time. They are going to push you and help you and they’re very loyal.
“This is the best place to play hockey. Yeah I won a cup in L.A. and it will be something that I remember for the rest of my life, but always going to be a Flyer."
Former teammates Mark Recchi, Mike Knuble, Peter Forsberg and Justin Williams all congratulated Gagne for his remarkable career with video tributes that were played throughout the game.
Injuries
Voracek missed the final seven minutes of the second period after taking a puck to the mouth. He did, however, return for the start of the third frame.
Scratches
Forward Vinny Lecavalier and defenseman Evgeny Medvedev were both healthy scratches.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth (upper body), defenseman Mark Streit (pubic plate detachment) and forwards R.J. Umberger (foot) and Ryan White (upper body) are all injured.
Up next
The Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday for a 7 p.m. matchup with the San Jose Sharks.