Kings score in overtime, blank Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Carter scored with 2:25 left in overtime and Peter Budaj made 17 saves for his NHL-leading seventh shutout to give the Los Angeles Kings a 1-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
It was Budaj's second consecutive shutout for Los Angeles (27-21-4), which has won five straight games. The Kings goalie extended his shutout streak to 144:05. He hasn't allowed a goal since Ryan White of the Arizona Coyotes scored at 18:30 of the second period Jan. 31. Budaj made 22 saves in a 5-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
With No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick nearing a return from a groin injury sustained in the season opener, Budaj knows his playing time is going to diminish.

WATCH: All Kings vs. Flyers highlights
"I know it's a cliche but it's really how I try to approach the game, just try to take it one game at a time," he said. "It's a [Stanley Cup] Playoff race right now. We need to get as many points as possible. I try to go out there, don't think too much, don't think about what people think about me, what's going to happen, where we are in the standings. Just try to make the next save so we can help the team win the game and move up the standings. That's the key for me. I'm enjoying it. This is great. It's amazing and I'm very excited and very thankful for this. So far it's been a great year for me but there's still a long way to go."

Carter finished a give-and-go with Anze Kopitar for his League-high ninth game-winning goal and 27th of the season, second in the League to Sidney Crosby (30) of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The win moved the Kings into the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Calgary Flames, and within six points of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division.
Being there without Quick, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and Vezina Trophy finalist last season, is a credit to Budaj.
"To be honest with you, if he wasn't playing how he is, we wouldn't be in the position we are," Carter said.
Michal Neuvirth made 27 saves for Philadelphia (26-20-6). His best save came at 7:55 of the second period when he rolled on his back to glove a Dustin Brown shot. Neuvirth also nearly stopped Carter's shot in overtime with his blocker.
"He was great," Flyers center Sean Couturier said. "He made a few big saves. Especially that open net there [on Brown]. He did that a few times tonight where he saved us. That's the type of thing we need from a goalie and it's too bad we couldn't respond for him."

Goal of the game

Kopitar powered around Flyers forward Dale Weise and split two defenders with a pass across to Carter for the winning goal.

Save of the game

Neuvirth dove onto his side to glove Pearson's shot with 4:24 left the third period.

Highlight of the game

Flyers forward Jakub Voracek was under pressure and hit the puck into the middle of the ice that Kings forward Dustin Brown intercepted between the hash marks. He deked Neuvirth onto the ice, but the goalie rolled to his left and made a glove save at 7:55 of the second period.

Unsung performance of the game

Kings forward Tyler Toffoli got a breakaway with 7:38 left in the third period, but Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning chased him down and lifted his stick before he could get a shot off.

They said it

"We were confident we were going to score a goal. He [Neuvirth] played awesome obviously but [the Flyers are] one of the top in the League in letting goals in so we knew one was going to come." -- Kings defenseman Drew Doughty
"I thought from the drop of the puck we worked hard. We battled pretty hard together. We played a pretty good hockey game. Effort-wise, absolutely, the guys left it all out there. ... We talked about it and it was a good effort. Of course we wanted to get the second point, because the second point is critical. But it was a hard-fought game all the way through." -- Flyers coach Dave Hakstol

Need to know

Toffoli had one shot on goal in 15:12 of ice time in his first game since Dec. 20. Quick, who was injured on Oct. 12, is with the Kings and practiced in full gear Thursday and Friday, but is not expected to play on the four-game road trip. Los Angeles tied its season-long winning streak. It won five straight from Nov. 17-26. … The last time the Flyers lost 1-0 in overtime was against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 19, 2015.

What's next

Kings: At the Washington Capitals on Sunday (12 p.m. ET; NBC, NHL.TV)
Flyers: Host the St. Louis Blues on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, CSN-PH, NHL.TV)