Talk about having home ice advantage throughout a series, these teams didn't need to travel far to face each other. Alec Martinez would start the scoring in Game 1 with a powerplay goal. Matt Beleskey would score 2 minutes later to tie the game at 1-all. It would take a while for the next goal, as Teemu Selanne finally broke the deadlock midway through the third. Marian Gaborik would play hero for the Kings in the end. First, Gaborik would tie the game up with 7 seconds left in regulation. Then 12 minutes into overtime, Gaborik would redirect a pass past Jonas Hiller to give the Kings the win. Gaborik would continue his scoring streak in Game 2, finding the back of the net only 34 seconds into the game. Anaheim managed to tie the game up midway though the period, but that didn't last long. A Martinez blast from the point gave the Kings the lead. Jonathan Quick would take over from there, stopping everything in sight. Dwight King would ice the game with in empty net goal, as the Kings take Game 2 and extend their series lead. Game 3 saw Anaheim get the first go of the game, as a Corey Perry powerplay goal gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead. The teams would swap powerplay goals in the second. Ben Lovejoy's goal in the third was enough for the Ducks, as they would go on to win 3-1 and take their first game of the series. In a questionable move, rookie John Gibson would start for the Ducks in Game 4. The move ended up paying off, as Gibson would stop all 28 shots the Kings registered. At the other end, first period goals by Devente Smith-Pelly and Ryan Getzlaf highlight what ended up being a dreadful day offensively for the Ducks. Minus the first period, the Ducks would only register 3 shots in the last 2 periods (all in the third, they did not get a shot in the second). Nevertheless, Anaheim would escape Game 4 with the win to tie the series. Goals would return in Game 5, with Nick Bonino kicking it off early in the first. Trevor Lewis would tie the game up midway through the frame. The start of the second saw Anaheim get 2 unanswered - they would add one more a bit later. Gaborik would score late in the second to decrease Anaheim's lead to 2. The Kings would heavily outplay the Ducks in the third, but once again Gibson would hang on. Gibson would only give up one more goal, as the Ducks would win 4-3. The Kings would start the scoring in Game 6, as Jake Muzzin found the back of the net just over 8 minutes into the game. Trevor Lewis would score in the latter part of the second before Kyle Palmieri answered back for the Ducks. That was it for goals, as the Kings take the low-scoring affair to force a Game 7. Once again the Kings would play in a Game 7, and once again they would blow out the opposition. This time around the score came earlier, with Justin Williams, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards all scoring in the first period. Anze Kopitar and Gaborik would add to the lead in the second before the Ducks could respond. Both teams would swap goals in the third, as the Kings would go on to win 6-2. The Kings eliminate the Ducks in 7 games, and fight their way back to the Western Conference Final.
Games
Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3
Anaheim Ducks 1
Anaheim Ducks 3
Los Angeles Kings 2
Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 0
Los Angeles Kings 3
Anaheim Ducks 4
Anaheim Ducks 1
Los Angeles Kings 2
Los Angeles Kings 6
Anaheim Ducks 2
Three Thoughts on the Series
- Corey Perry nuts are getting a workout this playoffs. Perry also did this to Jeff Carter.
- Pretty good idea to have a billboard of a roasted duck around the Ducks home area.
- Boudreau tried playing Goaltender Roulette, and almost won too.
This was the last of the Finnish Flash's NHL career. Have a happy retirement Teemu.
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| (Image via CTVNews) |
Highlight of the Series
This save by Quick is...uh...something else. Full marks for going stacked-pads instead of the butterfly route.
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