Kings Bruise Bruins 2-1

The Boston Bruins have left the door open to the final playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

Olli Jokinen scored his eighth goal of the season with 1:06 left in overtime as the Los Angeles Kings slowed the Bruins' playoff run with a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.

"We let the other teams back into the playoff race with the way we played," said Boston captain Ray Bourque.

The Bruins have two points in their last three games after tying Toronto and Chicago and giving the Kings their first win in their last five games.

"We could've eliminated two teams pretty quickly," said Boston coach Pat Burns. "We have dug ourselves a hole."

The loss snapped a six-game unbeaten streak for the Bruins, who began the night five points ahead of the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference. Boston has nine games remaining in the regular season, five of them at home.

Jokinen took a pass in the slot from Craig Johnson and fired his winning shot into the net over the stick of Bruins goalie Byron Dafoe. The loss broke Dafoe's six-game unbeaten streak. He stopped 25 shots.

"It was probably the first backhand goal of my life," said Jokinen. "I certainly haven't scored many goals this season."

Rob Blake gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 5:40 of the third period on a shot from just above the right circle.

"We played them strong," said Los Angeles coach Larry Robinson. "We were patient defensively and we moved the puck around offensively."

Sergei Samsonov tied the game at 12:09 on a shot from the right circle. Dmitri Khristich, who missed the last two games with a separated shoulder, assisted on the goal.

Jamie Storr, who allowed nine goals in his previous three starts, turned away 24 shots in the Los Angeles net.

"I came out to challenge (Sergei) Samsonov, but he was in o close that I couldn't react," Storr said. "(Dmitri) Khristich made a great pass to set up the goal."

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