Golden Knights get taste of playoff OT in Game 2 win against Kings

LAS VEGAS -- Welcome, Vegas, to overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
To hockey that lasts as long as it takes, 60 minutes, 80 minutes, more. To tension, anxiety and excitement. To sickness in your stomach each time the puck heads toward the wrong net and a sudden jolt of joy when, finally, it goes in the right one.

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Kings series coverage]
The first playoff overtime in Vegas Golden Knights history -- and the longest game in Los Angeles Kings history -- lasted 95:23 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday. It didn't end until 15:23 of the second overtime, when forward Erik Haula scored, leapt into the arms of defenseman Jon Merrill and got mobbed by more teammates, as the horn blew and the fans celebrated yet another amazing moment in an amazing inaugural season.

The Golden Knights won 2-1 and took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference First Round. Game 3 of the best-of-7 series is at Staples Center on Sunday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, FS-W, ATTSN-RM).
"That's one of the best feelings in sports," Haula said.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was brilliant, making 54 saves as the Golden Knights took advantage of a depleted Los Angeles defense corps.
Drew Doughty, a winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, served a one-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of forward William Carrier in Game 1. That meant the Kings were without three of their top four defensemen, with Jake Muzzin and Derek Forbort injured. That meant they had to dress four defensemen with five games of NHL playoff experience combined.
Vegas outshot Los Angeles 11-5 in the first period, 14-7 in the second and 9-8 in the third. Still, it was 1-1, after a power-play goal by Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch at 14:47 of the first, and a power-play goal by Kings defenseman Paul LaDue at 15:55 of the second.
"I thought we played a good 60-minute game," Haula said. "We kept pressing. We just kept talking about in the locker room, 'You know, we don't have to change much. Just clean it up a little bit, and just keep playing the same way. Just go after their defensemen, make it really hard on them.' I feel like we did a good job of wearing them down."

Vegas outshot Los Angeles 13-7 in the first overtime and 9-3 in the second.
"Not a lot was said in the locker room," defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "Guys were pretty tired. Guys were talking just about making sure you're properly taking care of your body. That's pretty much it. I don't even think we had a meeting between the first and second overtime."
In the end, forward James Neal entered the Los Angeles zone, cut to the left and sent the puck to the right. Haula came with speed up the right wing and caught the pass ahead of Kings forward Kyle Clifford. As Quick tried to poke check, Haula slid the puck underneath him.
"It's relief. It's excitement. It's everything in one," Neal said. "You know, it's a long game, it's physical, you're tired, but that's one of the best feelings in the world when you see that puck cross the goal line and you see our bench, you see the smiles on guys' faces, the fans. It's just … It's a lot of fun."
Not for Quick. Not for defenseman Alec Martinez, who played 44:51 and blocked eight shots, or defenseman Oscar Fantenberg, who played 41:03 and blocked four, or center Anze Kopitar, who played 38:54 and blocked three ... Go down the line. It was brutal for the Kings.
But the Golden Knights earned this.
"I think we should have won that game," forward Jonathan Marchessault said. "I think we played, I think, harder than them. We had more chances."
The Kings will rest, recover and head home, and they will have Doughty back when they get there. The Golden Knights have more work to do. But first, this is something to savor.
"This is why you play the game," Neal said. "It's the most fun. You do everything you can to give yourself a chance to play for the Stanley Cup, and you're going to go through the highs of winning games like this, you're going to go through lows and we're learning and getting better as we go, but I liked our composure at home. We'll reset here and get ready for another big game in LA."