Game 1: Kings 4, Canucks 2 (FINAL)

Everything resets tonight, as the playoffs begin. Will the Kings take the first step toward an upset, or will the Vancouver Canucks keep rolling? All the action is on KCOP Ch. 13, on NBC Sports Network and on 1150-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well…

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Luongo.
Clifford out: The Kings have announced that Kyle Clifford has an “upper-body injury.” Clifford is not expected to return. Clifford stayed on the bench after the hit from Byron Bitz but did not come out for the third period.
Kings 3, Canucks 2: The Kings took the lead with 3:14 remaining. Mike Richards’ pass down low to Jeff Carter went off Carter’s skate, then skidded across to Dustin Penner. Before Luongo could slide across, Penner knocked the puck into the net.
Kings 4, Canucks 2: Dustin Brown scored an empty-net goal with 17.9 seconds remaining.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Canucks 39-26.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Luongo.
Kings 2, Canucks 1: The Kings got a five-minute power play when Byron Bitz was called for a major boarding penalty, and a game misconduct, for a hit on Kyle Clifford. The Kings scored in the final minute of that power play. Willie Mitchell took a pass from Alec Martinez and took a slap shot from the point. The shot appeared to get deflected and beat Luongo high, with 3:27 remaining in the period. Justin Williams also picked up an assist.
Kings 2, Canucks 2: Vancouver put heavy pressure on the Kings in the final two minutes, and got rewarded with the game-tying goal with 7.2 seconds remaining in the period. After a faceoff win, Alex Edler fired a shot from the point. Edler got a screen in front, and the shot beat Quick. Maxim Lapierre and Ryan Kelser picked up assists.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Canucks 16-8 in the period. The Kings went 1-for-4 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

FIRST PERIOD
Officials: Paul Devorski, Dan O’Rourke (referees); Derek Amell, Scott Cherrey (linesmen).
Lineups: Davis Drewiske, Andrei Loktionov, Brad Richardson and Kevin Westgarth are the Kings’ scratches.
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Quick against the Canucks’ Roberto Luongo.
Canucks 1, Kings 0: The Kings had a handful of excellent scoring chances early, then killed off a Vancouver power play but allowed the first goal at the 4:17 mark, just 11 seconds after the end of the power play. Alex Burrows found the puck in the slot, wheeled, fired and beat Quick. Quick vehemently argued to the nearest official that he had been tripped moments earlier, with no penalty called. Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler picked up assists.
Kings 1, Canucks 1: The Kings tied the game with a 5-on-3 goal with 6:29 remaining in the period. The Kings got set up down low, and Mike Richards held the puck toward the side of the net. Instead of centering a pass, Richards took a snap shot and beat Luongo. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty picked up assists.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Canucks 13-6 in the period. The Kings went 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

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