Patrick O'Sullivan skated onto the ice in the third period upset with a call that nullified his go-ahead goal. There was no doubt about his winner in the shootout, and he left the arena elated.
O'Sullivan's goal in the shootout helped the Los Angeles Kings snapped a four-game skid against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-2 win on Sunday night.
"I guess I turned and apparently I kicked it in," O'Sullivan said about the goal that was negated after a video review. "It doesn't matter now, we won the game anyway."
Dan Cloutier, making his first start of the season and finishing with 31 saves, stopped Jason Chimera before O'Sullivan's chance. He was recalled on Feb. 7.
"I've waited a long time for this one," said Cloutier, who has struggled with injuries and mostly played in the minors the last few seasons with a hefty contract. "I've been through a lot in the last couple of years. I'm pretty excited to come back up and get an opportunity to play."
Anze Kopitar scored twice for Los Angeles, the worst team in the league but on a 9-4-1 stretch.
Ron Hainsey and Rick Nash tallied power-play goals for Columbus, which entered just two points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after earning three of four points on a recent two-game road trip, but have lost six of seven.
"Our players are focused on getting points every night, we're paying a price" Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "But, we are not scoring, so it puts a lot of pressure in other areas."
The Hockey News: Headlines: O'Sullivan nets shootout winner, Kings beat Blue Jackets 3-2
O'Sullivan nets shootout winner, Kings beat Blue Jackets 3-2 
