Blues 2, Kings 1 (OT): Alex Steen scored a power-play goal in regulation and a short-handed tally at 13:26 of overtime as host St. Louis took the opener of its Western Conference first-round series against Los Angeles.
Less than a minute after Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk received a double-minor for high-sticking, Jonathan Quick went behind his net to collect the puck and set up a rush. Steen came rushing in and forced Quick to misplay the puck before grabbing it near the left post and backhanding it into the vacant net.
Shattenkirk notched an assist and Brian Elliott made 28 saves for the fourth-seeded Blues, who had lost eight consecutive meetings with the Kings - including last season's second-round playoff series. St. Louis hosts Game 2 on Thursday.
Justin Williams scored and Quick turned aside 40 shots for fifth-seeded Los Angeles, which went 4-0 in overtime en route to the Stanley Cup championship last year.
Just 42 seconds after the Kings were whistled for too many men on the ice, Shattenkirk knocked down a clearing attempt at the blue line and unleashed a shot from above the right faceoff circle that Quick stopped. The rebound went to Steen, who buried it from the low slot at 9:05 of the first period for his second career playoff goal and a 1-0 lead.
The tally stood up until late in the third. Williams skated into the right circle and fired the puck under the crossbar with 31.6 seconds remaining, knotting the contest.
GAME NOTEBOOK: This is the fourth postseason series between the Blues and Kings. Each of the first three finished in sweeps. ... St. Louis C T.J. Oshie was in the lineup for the first time since March 28 - also against Los Angeles. Oshie, who had been recovering from knee surgery, recorded one shot on goal and was minus-1 in 18:01 of ice time. ... Kings D Robyn Regehr left the game 32 seconds into the third period after getting hit in the face by Blues C David Backes' skate. Regehr, who left a pool of blood on the ice, returned to the game seven minutes later.
Los Angeles | St. Louis | |
Justin Williams 1 | Points | Alexander Steen 2 |
Justin Williams 1 | Goals | Alexander Steen 2 |
Drew Doughty 1 | Assists | Kevin Shattenkirk 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Alexander Steen 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | Alexander Steen 1 |
Jonathan Quick .952 | Save Percentage | Brian Elliott .966 |
Jonathan Quick 40 | Saves | Brian Elliott 28 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Los Angeles | 29 | 1 | 0-3 | 4-5 | 12 | 25 |
St. Louis | 42 | 2 | 1-5 | 3-3 | 8 | 44 |