WCQF Game 5: Kings Steal Road Win In OT, Take 3-2 Lead Over Blues
When this series comes to an end, the team on the winning side will definitely have earned it. For the fifth game in a row, there was little to decide between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. Five straight one goal games, with 2 of them decided in overtime. Twice on Wednesday night the Kings opened a period with an early goal, and both times the Blues had tied it by the end.
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.