NHL playoffs 2013: Blackhawks, Blues win in OT; Ducks victorious in regulation

For some time there, it looked like we’d have three overtime games on the first night of NHL playoff hockey. But that would be too easy, right? Best to have our overtime excitement served in moderation. At any rate, the night was full of excitement from first puck drop to final whistle.

And then this happened, and what little hope they had seemingly went out the window.

The Ducks, who opened on home ice, outshot the Wings 7-6 in a close first period. Typical of a Game 1, the two teams came out hitting and looking to establish an elevated level of intensity as the playoffs get underway.

With NHL realignment coming next season, this is the last time the Wings will have to travel three time zones away in a first-round series. The Ducks are hoping the Red Wings never forget these long-distance trips.

In the end, Game 1 was won by the unlikeliest of players.

And it was a beauty.

But then the Blues got another clear, Quick got cute with it behind the Kings net, Steen didn’t fall for Quick’s fake pass, and Steen stole the puck and wrapped it around into the vacated net:

Oops.

St. Louis outshot Los Angeles 10-7 in the period, a much closer affair than the first, where the Blues dominated for most of 20 minutes.

With just one goal separating them and the previously struggling Quick channeling his 2012 playoff form, it’s anyone’s game as they head to the third period.

A lot is made of Kane’s trickery with the puck, but I agree with a lot of people on Twitter in saying that Kane doesn’t get enough credit for his passing skills. He combines that slick stickhandling with some fantastic vision.

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Ever wonder if NHL players felt the same way about Pierre McGuire as you do? Well, some of them do.

I don’t know if he retweeted this:

Exhibit A:

How do you feel about that, Marian?

Wait...

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This led some to speculate that Pominville would be in the lineup for Game 1.

However, Yeo stated on Tuesday afternoon that Pominville was not yet fully ready to return. Citing the big picture, Yeo wants to make sure that Pominville returns for good instead of rushing his recovery. Apparently, he woke up not feeling well on Tuesday morning, according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The 2013 NHL playoffs are scheduled to begin on Tuesday night with three Western Conference match-ups.

In the eyes of many, the West is considered to be a more difficult grouping than its Eastern Conference counterpart. Whether that is the case remains to be seen.

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