Western Conference Quarterfinal Game 1: St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings – Blues Win 2-1 in OT.
By Jamie Clarke
OVERALL RECAP
The LA Kings are a thick, blocky team. They don’t give much room, but they take up a lot of space. Unfortunately for the LA Kings, they drew into a series against a team that could be defined the exact same way in the St. Louis Blues. The Hitchcock Blues don’t give anything, and this game could not have exemplified that anymore. In a game that founds its way to overtime on a last minute goal, the St. Louis Blues hold on for an overtime win 2-1, taking a 1-0 Series Lead over the reigning Champs.
Apr 30, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Adam Cracknell (79) checks Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
GAME RECAP
This was a game that from the get go you know just knew was going to be hard to come by on the offense side. Goals are going to be a premium, there was no 2 ways about it. So when the first period became a penalty calling bonanza, you knew it was only a matter of time. Then it happened. On the Power Play, Kevin Shattenkirk got it done and Alexander Steen potted the puck, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead that would hold up until the games final minutes.
You know its a hard fought game when hits begin outmatching shots, and that was the case tonight. Throwing the body and setting the tempo was almost more important than the goals scored. This is already shaping up to being an extremely hard fought series, and hopefully players on both sides can pull through this, as unscathed as possible.
With the clock winding down, Justin Williams snatched a regulation win from the hands of the St. Louis Blues. An extra man on the ice was the only way goals were being scored tonight in St. Louis. With that Williams goal, we find ourselves in overtime in both of the opening games of the playoffs, and all the sudden ever fan is getting their moneys worth.
Special team was once again the winning feature of this game. Only, this is not the way I imagine the Kings imagined their overtime powerplay would go. With Shattenkirk in the box for 4 minutes on a high stick double minor, the outlook was a little bleak for the Blues. Thankfully, Alex Steen decided he wasn’t done. Thanks to a shorthanded goal, the Blues take the series lead.
SENSHOT 3 STARS
1 – Alex Steen
2 – Kevin Shattenkirk
3 – Justin Williams
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