Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (R) celebrates with defenseman Alec Martinez after scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center. The Kings won 2-1 in overtime. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

By Helene Elliott/Los Angeles Times


Every time the Los Angeles Kings have needed something more from Drew Doughty -- minutes, offense, leadership -- the gifted defenseman has delivered. Needing a power-play goal Tuesday to pull even with the Vancouver Canucks, the Kings again turned to Doughty and got what they wanted -- a game-tying goal that gave them the momentum to complete a rally and earn a 2-1 overtime victory before an announced sellout crowd at Staples Center.
Doughty’s slap shot during a third-period advantage was the first of 28 shots to get past Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom. That brought the Kings even at 1-1 and set the stage for Anze Kopitar’s winner, set up on a fine pass from Jeff Carter that followed a giveaway by Alex Edler. The Kings outshot the Canucks, 15-1, in the third period and 40-16 overall.
“I don’t know what it is,” Doughty said of his clutch play. “I just enjoy coming to work every day and doing everything I can to help my team win. And if the coaches are going to need different things from me on different nights in different years I’ve got to be ready for all those opportunities, and when they come my way I have give 100 percent of my ability.”
Kopitar got 100 percent of his strength into his winning shot, going to one knee to whip it past Markstrom 2:02 into overtime and give the Kings (15-8-1) the victory. He said he was the first forechecker into the zone and merely wanted to make sure Edler didn’t get past him and jump out for an odd-man rush the other way.
“When I turned around, I saw that the pass wasn’t quite on the tape and that Carts has a really good chance to grab it and then I just turned right into it,” Kopitar said. “He made a really nice play and I just wanted to get it off as quick as I could. ... I just wanted to get the leverage in there. Sometimes in overtime the puck likes to jump and I wanted to make sure I really hit it solid.”
He got more than enough of it. “Getting the extra point is so important,” Kopitar said.
Doughty’s goal was his third this season and came on a night he played a season-high 31 minutes and 40 seconds. He began the game averaging 27 minutes and nine seconds’ ice time per game, which ranked second in the NHL to Minnesota’s Ryan Suter (28:05). He also drew a late penalty against Vancouver’s Radim Vrbata and made a strong defensive play that prevented the Canucks from getting a short-handed opportunity.
“I’m only 25 years old. I turn 26 in a few days and I have so much more to learn, and so much more to experience,” Doughty said. “I know I haven’t reached my potential. I don’t know if I can ever reach that potential but I know I do have a lot more in me and a lot more improving to do and I can become a lot better hockey player.”
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick wasn’t as busy as his Vancouver counterpart, stopping 15 shots by the Canucks. He was beaten only on a first-period power-play goal by Daniel Sedin. The Kings are 2-0 on a four-game homestand that continues Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Canucks, though depleted by injuries and playing less than 24 hours after a lifeless 4-0 loss at Anaheim, showed a lot more life in the first period Tuesday than they did Monday. They capitalized on their first power play, scoring 44 seconds after Kings left wing Milan Lucic was sent to the penalty box for high-sticking. He took the penalty in the offensive zone, which coaches hate, and it ended up costing the Kings. Yannick Weber passed to Henrik Sedin, who found his twin Daniel deep on the right side. Daniel’s one-timer eluded Quick at 7:39.
That was it until Doughty brought the Kings even and Kopitar delivered the winner, his eighth goal this season.
Earlier in the day, the Kings announced that defenseman Matt Greene is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Thursday and will be out indefinitely. The rugged Greene, 32, hasn’t played since Oct.13, the third game of the season. However, he had been skating and practicing lightly until recently.