PHILADELPHIA _ Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth earned his second straight start for the first time in three months, and he's likely to keep his new streak going after a performance reminiscent of the one he gave during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs.
Making several spectacular saves, Neuvirth earned the Flyers one point, as the Los Angeles Kings scored a 1-0 overtime victory Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.
"I felt good but we got only one point, so I am not happy about it," said Neuvirth, who missed 24 games earlier this season with a knee injury. " ... I was seeing the puck well, but it's tough when you don't score any goals."
Neuvirth was so strong that he overshadowed winning goalie Peter Budaj, who recorded his NHL-best seventh shutout in making just 17 saves for a Kings team that is 27-21-4 after winning its fifth consecutive game and second straight by shutout.
The Flyers, coming off a 3-1 win Thursday over Montreal that began this five-game homestand, have scored just four goals while going 1-1-1 since the All-Star Game.
In the overtime period, Kings center Anze Kopitar skated around Dale Weise and fed former Flyer Jeff Carter, who was all alone and fired the game-winner in from near the goal line with 2 minutes, 25 seconds left. It was Carter's 27th goal of the season.
"I had a piece of it in the overtime goal but didn't get enough," Neuvirth said.
He certainly got enough of the rest of the Kings shots.
Neuvirth made 27 saves, all in regulation. It was the first time he had made consecutive starts this season since getting the call for four consecutive games from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5.
In last year's playoffs, Neuvirth allowed just two goals in three games against the explosive Washington Capitals.
"It is definitely huge," Neuvirth said about making consecutive starts. "I said so many times the more I play the better I play."
Early in the second period there was a brief flurry of offensive activity on both ends. After the Kings' Tyler Toffoli hit the crossbar, Flyers center Sean Couturier hit the left post on a breakaway.
Neuvirth made a spectacular save on Dustin Brown to keep the game scoreless with 12:05 left in the second period. After a turnover by Jake Voracek, Brown skated in on goal. He appeared to have faked out Neuvirth, but the goalie reached out with his glove hand and stopped the shot, stunning Brown.
"It happened quick, caught me off guard a little bit, but I stayed with it and had my eye on the puck the whole time, and it was a big save for us," Neuvirth said.
With 4:24 left in regulation, Neuvirth stretched out again to make a save against Tanner Pearson. There were several other big saves throughout.
"Those games, we have to find a way to win the game," Voracek said. "After a performance like that (from Neuvirth), knowing that, it's tough to only get one point."
The Flyers (26-20-7) will resume action Monday night against St. Louis, and it would be a surprise if Neuvirth isn't again in the net.
