Justin Faulk scored 46 seconds into overtime and the St. Louis Blues defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Monday night.
Tyler Bozak also scored and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves for the Blues, who are locked into the fourth seed in the West Division and will play Colorado or Vegas in the first round of the playoffs.
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Justin Faulk scored 46 seconds into overtime and the St. Louis Blues defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Monday night.
Alex Iafallo scored, Calvin Petersen made 17 saves and the Kings wrapped up their home schedule with four straight losses.
Jaden Schwartz set up Bozak’s fifth goal, and Faulk had the secondary assist, his fifth in the past five games.
Drew Doughty nearly won it in regulation for Los Angeles, hitting the post on a power play with 1:09 remaining, but Binnington was able to fall on the loose puck before the Kings could react.
That group includes forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Sammy Blais, and defenseman Vince Dunn.
Blues defenseman Jake Walman did not play after testing positive for COVID-19. General manager Doug Armstrong believes it was a false positive because Walman has been vaccinated and a second test came back negative.
Blues: Host the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.
Faulk and David Perron sprung a 2-on-1 rush after Ryan O'Reilly won the opening faceoff in overtime, and Faulk won it with a wrist shot for his seventh goal.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen (40) and defenseman Drew Doughty (8) react after the St. Louis Blues scored in overtime Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Blues won 2-1. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Alex Iafallo scored, Calvin Petersen made 17 saves and the Kings wrapped up their home schedule with four straight losses.
After two periods of tepid hockey, the Blues and Kings finally started to generate offense in the third.
Bozak went five-hole with a backhand to give St. Louis the lead 1:25 into the third.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) watches as a puck flies away from the goal during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Jaden Schwartz set up Bozak’s fifth goal, and Faulk had the secondary assist, his fifth in the past five games.
Iafallo responded with a one-timer from the left circle to tie it at 7:35.
Gabriel Vilardi extended his point streak to four games with the assist. He has three goals and two assists in that span, with the 2017 first-round draft pick closing out an erratic first full season in the NHL on a positive note.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) reaches behind his back to gain control of the puck during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Drew Doughty nearly won it in regulation for Los Angeles, hitting the post on a power play with 1:09 remaining, but Binnington was able to fall on the loose puck before the Kings could react.
GETTING RIGHT
Blues defenseman Torey Krug returned after missing five games because of an upper-body injury, and coach Craig Berube indicated several other injured players could get at least one game in before the playoffs start.
St. Louis Blues center Tyler Bozak (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of a hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
That group includes forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Sammy Blais, and defenseman Vince Dunn.
Dunn has missed nine games because of an upper-body injury, Blais four games due to an upper-body injury, and Tarasenko four games with a lower-body injury.
ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen (40) blocks a shot during the second period of a hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Blues defenseman Jake Walman did not play after testing positive for COVID-19. General manager Doug Armstrong believes it was a false positive because Walman has been vaccinated and a second test came back negative.
Steven Santini replaced Walman in the lineup.
UP NEXT
St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) passes the puck ahead of Los Angeles Kings left wing Carl Grundstrom (91) during the second period of a hockey game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)
Blues: Host the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.
Kings: At the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Fans applaud as the Los Angeles Kings leave the ice after they lost their hockey game 2-1 against the St. Louis Blues Monday, May 10, 2021, in Los Angeles. It was the Kings' last home game of the season. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)