May 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov (26) celebrates his game winning goal against the St. Louis Blues during overtime in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The Kings defeated the Blues 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

After a scoreless first period, the Kings got a power play goal from Jeff Carter just 14 seconds into the second.  After winning the offensive zone faceoff, Carter went to the net and deflected Drew Doughty‘s shot past Brian Elliott.  The first Blues goal came 6 and a half minutes later, and it was all Alex Steen.  The game 1 hero broke in, and after having his initial shot stopped by Jonathan Quick, Steen outmuscled the Kings defenseman in the corner and came out the far side with the puck and wristed it past Quick to tie the game at 1 thorough 2.

Carter struck again early in the 3rd on a power play after a nice feed from Anze Kopitar, who drew Elliott over to him and then the Slovenian found a wide open Carter in the slot for the open net.  That lead looked like it was going to hold up until the final minute when Alex Pietrangelo‘s wrist shot from the point got through about half a dozen bodies and past a shocked Quick, forcing overtime.

Slava Voynov scored his second game winner of the series at the 8 minute mark on a play that looked similar, but not exactly, to the 2nd Carter goal.  Kopitar again found the open man and although the net was not as empty as Carter’s opportunity, Voynov found an opening to end the game and get the first road win by a team in this series.

SENSHOT’S 3 STARS

1. Jeff Carter

2. Jonathan Quick

3. Anze Kopitar

Game 6 goes back to LA with the Kings having the chance to end it at home on Friday night.

May 6 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Justin Williams (second from right) celebrates with teammates Drew Doughty (8), Mike Richards (10) and Dwight King (74) after scoring a goal in the third period as St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron (57) reacts in game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Blues 4-3 to tie the series 2-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It didn’t look that way early on, as David Backes and T.J. Oshie had St. Louis up 2-0 before the game was 5 minutes old, and given the way the series had gone, a 2 goal lead might as well be 7.  This time was a little different though, and before the period was out, Jeff Carter and Dustin Penner had drawn the Kings even.

Oshie’s second of the game put the Blues back up by a goal with the only marker of the second period, with Brian Elliott making 13 saves in the frame to keep the Kings at bay.

Elliott wouldn’t have the same success in the third, however, as Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams struck 1:16 apart to give the Kings a lead for the first time in the game.  They would hang on to win the game by that 4-3 score and serve notice that the defending champs are serious about repeating.

SENSHOT’S 3 STARS

1.  Mike Richards

2. Justin Williams

3. TJ Oshie

Game 5 goes on Wednesday at 9:00 PM eastern (8:00 local)