KINGS 2, CANUCKS 1 (OT): Jarret Stoll scored at 4:27 of overtime as Los Angeles eliminated top-seeded Vancouver from their Western Conference quarterfinal series with a victory in Game 5.
Brad Richardson tied the contest early in the third period and Jonathan Quick made 26 saves for the Kings, who won three road games in a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.
The Kings will take on the Central Division-champion St. Louis Blues in the conference semifinals.
Trevor Lewis forced Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis to cough up the puck just inside his own blue line. Stoll picked it up and rushed in on a 2-on-1 before beating Cory Schneider high to the stick side from the left faceoff circle, giving the Kings their first series win since 2001.
Vancouver got on the board during a power play with just under six minutes remaining in the first period. Hamhuis kept the puck in the offensive zone at the left point and dished it to Daniel Sedin, who made a cross-slot pass from the bottom of the right faceoff circle to twin brother Henrik for an easy tap-in.
The goal held up until early in the third.
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty carried the puck across the blue line and down the right side before throwing it in front. Richardson fired it past Schneider from a crowded doorstep at 3:21 to forge a 1-1 tie.
Each goaltender came up big on breakaways as Schneider stopped Anze Kopitar with one second left in the first period and Quick denied Daniel Sedin with 2:03 to play in the second.
Schneider stopped 35 shots for the Canucks, who have lost seven of their last nine conference quarterfinal games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Schneider allowed a total of four goals in his three starts in the series but finished with a 1-2 record. ... The road team won four of the five games, with Los Angeles capturing all three at Rogers Arena. ... Just two players from each club failed to register a shot on goal, with both Kings being defensemen (Rob Scuderi and Matt Greene). ... Vancouver is the sixth Presidents' Trophy winner overall to be eliminated in the first round and the third in four seasons.
Los Angeles | Vancouver | |
Brad Richardson 1 | Points | Henrik Sedin 1 |
Brad Richardson 1 | Goals | Henrik Sedin 1 |
Drew Doughty 1 | Assists | Dan Hamhuis 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Henrik Sedin 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Jonathan Quick .963 | Save Percentage | Cory Schneider .946 |
Jonathan Quick 26 | Saves | Cory Schneider 35 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Los Angeles | 37 | 2 | 0-3 | 3-4 | 8 | 31 |
Vancouver | 27 | 1 | 1-4 | 3-3 | 6 | 23 |