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Kings win opener on Kopitar's OT goal
Source: AFP |
June 1, 2012, Friday
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ANZE Kopitar scored on a breakaway 8:13 into overtime on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Kings downed the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in the opening game of the NHL championship Stanley Cup finals.
Defenseman Drew Doughty began the move that culminated with the game-winner, sending the puck up the left wing to Justin Williams, who delivered a backhand pass to Kopitar.
Kopitar carried the puck in alone and fired it under the pad of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.
"Their one D-man came down the wall and other D came to me," Williams said. "I wasn't sure if Kopitar was alone or not, so I just threw it over there."
"It feels great," Kopitar said. "I wanted to make sure I went to the middle. I yelled for the puck and I don't know if he heard me or not, but he chipped it perfectly."
"He had so much time," Brodeur said. "He saw me not make a move toward his forehand and took advantage. It's a breakaway. Every goalie would want that back. If I could know what he's thinking, it would be a lot easier."
The Kings, who were seeded eighth in the NHL's Western Conference, have now won all nine of their road games in this post-season, an NHL record.
They have won their last 11 road playoff games dating back to last season, and will try to extend the streak in Game 2 tomorrow.
The Kings beat the top three teams in the West to reach the NHL's best-of-seven title series for the second time. In 1993 they fell in five games to Montreal.
Colin Fraser had given the Kings the lead in the first period.
Anton Volchenkov scored late in the second period to pull New Jersey level.
Both teams had a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the third, but neither could get the job done.
Devils defenseman Mark Fayne missed an open shot with little more than 10 minutes remaining.
Two minutes later Brodeur stopped a shot from Doughty.
With the Kings dominating the final 10 minutes of regulation, Brodeur also stopped late shots by Dustin Penner and Mike Richards to preserve the tie and force over-time.
Defenseman Drew Doughty began the move that culminated with the game-winner, sending the puck up the left wing to Justin Williams, who delivered a backhand pass to Kopitar.
Kopitar carried the puck in alone and fired it under the pad of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.
"Their one D-man came down the wall and other D came to me," Williams said. "I wasn't sure if Kopitar was alone or not, so I just threw it over there."
"It feels great," Kopitar said. "I wanted to make sure I went to the middle. I yelled for the puck and I don't know if he heard me or not, but he chipped it perfectly."
"He had so much time," Brodeur said. "He saw me not make a move toward his forehand and took advantage. It's a breakaway. Every goalie would want that back. If I could know what he's thinking, it would be a lot easier."
The Kings, who were seeded eighth in the NHL's Western Conference, have now won all nine of their road games in this post-season, an NHL record.
They have won their last 11 road playoff games dating back to last season, and will try to extend the streak in Game 2 tomorrow.
The Kings beat the top three teams in the West to reach the NHL's best-of-seven title series for the second time. In 1993 they fell in five games to Montreal.
Colin Fraser had given the Kings the lead in the first period.
Anton Volchenkov scored late in the second period to pull New Jersey level.
Both teams had a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the third, but neither could get the job done.
Devils defenseman Mark Fayne missed an open shot with little more than 10 minutes remaining.
Two minutes later Brodeur stopped a shot from Doughty.
With the Kings dominating the final 10 minutes of regulation, Brodeur also stopped late shots by Dustin Penner and Mike Richards to preserve the tie and force over-time.
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