Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Mikael Samuelsson’s second tally of the game, coming at 8:52 of overtime, sent Vancouver past Los Angeles, 3-2, in the opener of this Western Conference quarterfinal series at GM Place.
Vancouver Strikes First As Samuelsson’s Goal In OT Lifts Canucks To A 3-2 Win
After 30 seconds of pressure inside the Kings' defensive zone, Henrik Sedin gained control of the puck behind the goal line and dished back into the high slot for Samuelsson, whose one-timer beat Jonathan Quick over the glove to end the contest.
Daniel Sedin posted a goal and one assist while Henrik added a pair of helpers for the Canucks, who opened the set with their first overtime playoff victory since a 3-2 decision at St. Louis in a Western quarterfinal on April 21, 2009.
Roberto Luongo stopped 25-of-27 shots, including all six fired his way in overtime, for the win.
Jarret Stoll and Fredrik Modin scored for the Kings, who were making their first postseason appearance since 2002.
Quick performed well during his first NHL playoff start, making 41 saves in defeat.
Game 2 takes place in Vancouver late Saturday.
Stoll beat Luongo with a rising wrister from the slot to cash in a power-play chance at the 54-second mark of the second period, but Samuelsson converted a rebound in front at 3:09 on a Vancouver advantage.
The Canucks went up 2-1 as the Sedin twins worked their magic. Henrik carried the puck through the neutral zone, and when he was several strides inside the LA blueline, threaded a pass to brother Daniel on the left wing. He beat a Kings defender, cut to the slot and lifted a backhander over Quick at 8:31.
Los Angeles received a five-minute power play with 8:51 left in the second when Canucks defenseman Andrew Alberts was given a major and game misconduct for boarding Brad Richardson.
Modin tied the game with a short-side score at 13:06 but the Kings were unable to move ahead on the remainder of the power play.
Vancouver accrued a 13-2 shot advantage in the third period but could not end the contest in regulation.
Samuelsson's last multi-goal game occurred on March 13 against Ottawa. His last playoff game with at least two scores came on May 24, 2008, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Pittsburgh...This is the fourth all-time meeting between the clubs in the postseason, with the Kings winning two of the last three (1991 Smythe Division semifinal, 1993 Smythe Division final)...Los Angeles hadn't lost an overtime playoff game since Game 4 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, a 3-2 decision at the Forum against the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings had won five OT games in a row since then, four in the 2001 postseason and one in 2002.
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