Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Western Conference Semifinal: 5) Los Angeles Kings VS. 6) San Jose Sharks

Welcome to the post for the semifinal series between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series.

Game 1: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles began in the first period with a Slava Voynov goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The Kings added on as Richards scored, with helpers provided by Voynov and Rob Scuderi. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 2-0 final, with the three stars going to Quick (35 save shutout), Voynov, and Richards. The Kings have a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles struck first in the first period on a Jeff Carter goal, his fourth of the postseason, an unassisted goal. The Kings added on in the second period with a Drew Doughty power play goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Brad Richardson and Dustin Penner. San Jose got on the board as Patrick Marleau scored his fifth of the postseason, coming off of Logan Couture and Dan Boyle. The Sharks tied it with a Brad Stuart goal, set up by Scott Gomez and Scott Hannan. San Jose took the lead with a third period goal by Marc-Edouard Vlasic, fueled by Stuart and Gomez. Los Angeles tied it with a Dustin Brown power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Carter and Mike Richards. The Kings took the lead as Trevor Lewis scored a power play goal, coming off of Tyler Toffoli and Jake Muzzin. This made it 4-3, which was a lead they held on to, and the three stars were given to Doughty, Lewis, and Gomez, while Stuart and Carter get the honorable mentions. The Kings head north with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Antti Niemi for San Jose. San Jose led off in the first period on a Dan Boyle goal, his second of the postseason, coming on the power play from Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski. Los Angeles tied it with a Tyler Toffoli goal, going in unassisted. The Sharks won 2-1 in overtime with a Logan Couture power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Marleau and Joe Thornton. The three stars belonged to Couture, Niemi (26 for 27 in saves), and Quick (38 for 40 in saves), while Marleau gets an honorable mention. The Kings still have a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Antti Niemi for San Jose. San Jose was first to score in the first period with a Brent Burns goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Joe Thornton and T.J. Galiardi. The Sharks added on in the second period with a power play goal by Logan Couture, his fifth of the playoffs, powered by Dan Boyle and Joe Pavelski. Los Angeles got one back in the third period with a Mike Richards power play goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar. This wasn't enough to avoid a 2-1 loss, and the three stars were Thornton, Niemi (22 for 23 in saves), and Quick (21 for 23 in saves). The series will return to Los Angeles tied at 2.

Game 5: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles got going in the second period on an Anze Kopitar goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Justin Williams and Kyle Clifford. The Kings added on in the third period when Slava Voynov scored his fourth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Trevor Lewis. Los Angeles iced it at 3-0 when Jeff Carter put away his fifth of the postseason into the empty net, set up by Mike Richards. The three stars went to Quick (24 save shutout), Kopitar, and Drew Doughty, while any point-earner can take the third slot. The Kings retake the series lead at 3-2 before heading out on the road again.

Game 6: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Antti Niemi for San Jose. San Jose started in the first period on a Joe Thornton power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Joe Pavelski and Dan Boyle. The Sharks added on in the second period as T.J. Galiardi scored, courtesy of Scott Hannan and the goalie Niemi. Los Angeles got one the board as Dustin Brown netted his third of the playoffs, assisted by Matt Greene and Dwight King. The game was scoreless from here, leaving the final at 2-1 for the Sharks, with the three stars being Thornton, Boyle, and Galiardi. The series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 7, tied at 3. 

Game 7: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles opened with a second period power play goal by Justin Williams, his third of the postseason, powered by Slava Voynov and Drew Doughty. The Kings added on with another Williams goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, set up by Anze Kopitar and Voynov. San Jose got one back in the third period with a Dan Boyle goal, his third of the postseason, courtesy of Joe Pavelski. They failed to get an equalizer, losing 2-1. The three stars belonged to Williams, Quick (25 for 26 in saves), and Niemi (16 for 18 in saves), while Voynov gets an honorable mention. The Kings win the series 4-3 and will compete in the Western Conference Final.

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